Tag Archives: helping

Jan30

How To Keep Your Aging Loved One Happy & Healthy

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How To Keep Your Aging Loved One Happy & Healthy

When it comes to aging loved ones, they tend to be the ones that face the most loneliness. It’s quite sad, but there is something that you can do about it. More specifically, there are ways that you can keep your aging loved one happy and healthy throughout the rest of their life. It’s not nearly as challenging as you may think so here is everything you need to know:

Encourage physical activities:

If your aging loved one is not getting adequate exercise, you should encourage them to be more active. Exercise helps strengthen muscles, improves balance, and helps reduce the risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It also promotes healthy aging. Many seniors are afraid of exercising, but they need to stay active to protect their health. Encourage your senior loved one to keep up with their physical activity by showing them the benefits of doing so.

Set boundaries around your caregiving relationship:

It can be challenging having to take care of your aging loved ones and it is important to set boundaries. This can sometimes be easier said than done! Some people find it difficult to say no to their parents. They may feel guilty and want to say yes to everything. The most important thing to remember when setting boundaries is to be clear. You do not want to be perceived as being a doormat or rude. Instead, be thoughtful and respectful. If you want to ensure your aging loved ones are happy and doing well, then you need to know it starts with you and how you feel. Boundaries will help keep both parties happy.

Encourage meaningful conversations:

Having those heart-to-heart conversations means a lot. Seniors’ minds are often a source of wisdom and experience. Sharing memories can be a fun and uplifting way to connect with them. You can ask them how they’re feeling or even try to take a trip down memory lane with them. Overall, it’s just so important to engage in these sorts of conversations; they’re very powerful and can help combat loneliness.

Make them feel safe:

Using the latest technologies, such as wireless alarm systems and sensors to detect falls, can give seniors the peace of mind they deserve. Other less obvious solutions include installing an intelligent alarm system, putting a lock on the front door, and removing items in the home that could be considered hazardous. If they’re living in a nursing home, you’re going to want to ensure that they’re staying safe there too. In cases like this, inform them of a nearby  Nursing Home Abuse Center for additional help.

Find a hobby or activity that they may enjoy:

Some common hobbies for seniors include bird watching, art, music, or even genealogy. These activities can provide a relaxing way for your senior to connect with the outdoors and enjoy nature. You can also consider joining a book club. The books in a book club can range from serious to light-hearted, but the club’s goal is to bring people together to discuss a topic. Another idea for a new hobby for your senior is to look online. Many online gaming communities and websites exist to offer people a wide variety of games and activities. There are also a number of apps available to help you get started.

Form a care team:

A family member like yourself may need extra help taking care of an aging parent or loved one. You shouldn’t do it all alone, which is why you need to have a care team. The best way to find a good fit is to talk to your family. You want to know what your aging parent’s wants and needs are. Your own goals are also important. This includes keeping your loved one safe and comfortable and providing emotional support. If you have the means, you can even hire a financial planner to protect your loved one’s assets, as this tends to be needed too. Overall, a care team and a large support system will definitely help out your aging loved one.

Help keep your loved one safe and happy with the tips above and continue to nurture your relationship every day!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

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Jan27

Help Your Aging Parents Stay Healthy With These Tips

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Help Your Aging Parents Stay Healthy With These Tips

As parents age, they may need more assistance with their daily activities and health care. To ensure good health for aging parents, several options must be considered. From diet and exercise to mental health, here are five tips to help you support your aging parents as they transition into this new stage of their lives:

Pay Attention To Diet & Nutrition:

Eating a balanced diet is essential at any age, especially during the senior years. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help maintain energy levels and improve overall health. Reducing sugar intake and limiting red meat consumption are also essential, as these can increase cholesterol levels. Additionally, make sure your parents are taking any necessary vitamins or supplements that would benefit their health. If cost is an issue, many stores offer discounted vitamins specifically tailored to seniors’ needs.

Encourage Them To Exercise:

Regular exercise plays an essential role in maintaining physical health for older adults. Exercise helps strengthen muscles and bones, improves endurance, boosts immunity, and increases the production of endorphins, which can positively affect mood. Be sure to consult with a doctor before beginning any new exercises or activities as there are some that may not be appropriate depending on your parent’s current state of health or mobility level.

Nurture Good Mental Health & Socialization:

Seniors often experience feelings of isolation due to reduced mobility or social outlets. It’s essential that they still feel connected to family members and friends and stay engaged in activities that bring them joy, such as reading books or watching movies online with family members who live far away! Check in regularly with your parents about how they’re feeling – not just physically but mentally and look out for signs of depression, such as changes in sleep patterns or lack of motivation which may require professional assistance from a counselor or therapist, if needed.

Consider A Nursing Home:

It’s important to talk openly with your parents about their long-term care preferences and discuss if a nursing home would be beneficial for them. Nursing homes can provide professional medical care, companionship, and help with activities of daily living that they may not be able to do on their own. Make sure you thoroughly research the facility before making any decisions, as some may not have the best reputation or offer adequate medical care to seniors. You don’t want to have to contact a Nursing Home Justice Center after discovering your parents are victims of nursing home abuse.

Safety Management:

As people age, their risk for falls increases due to weakened muscles and/or reduced vision. Safety measures should be put into place in order to prevent falls from occurring inside the home, such as adding grab bars in the bathroom or installing motion sensor lights throughout hallways/stairs if possible. Establishing a contact list of family members or close friends who can be called in case of an emergency is also recommended. Alternatively, you can consider investing in a medical alert system that will allow your parents access to 24-hour medical assistance if needed.

Aging is not easy, and your parents may need support to maintain their physical and mental health. Keep these five tips in mind as you help them navigate this new life stage!

Featured Image By: Yan Krukau

Dec16

The Ideal Traits You Need To Be A Caregiver

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The Ideal Traits You Need To Be A Caregiver

To be a caregiver, you need to have certain personality traits and skills as an individual. Just like other jobs, it often takes a certain person to become a carer and to be great at the job itself. What are those traits that make one successful in this career path? Here are some of the personality quirks that are needed to become a great carer in the field:

Patience:

A lot of patience is important because not every patient you work with will be as cooperative as others. Depending on how many people you work with, you may need to manage your approach with each one a little differently. If you’re one to get easily frustrated or impatient, then this might not be the ideal career path for you. It can be filled with a lot of challenging times which require patience – and plenty of it!

Flexibility:

Flexibility is a must when it comes to being a carer. It’s something that live in care jobs require particularly because the hours may not be fixed or set. It might be that you’re required for an evening shift with one patient and then a middle-of-the-day shift for another person the following day. Flexibility is required for this type of role and, unfortunately, not every lifestyle can adapt to this. However, there may be carer jobs out there that offer more flexibility in terms of a structured or fixed working schedule.

Dedication and commitment:

With a carer role, it’s not something that’s easy to walk away from. Whether that’s deciding on a new career path, retiring, or just going home after a long day on the job. Walking away from it can be emotionally and physically tiring. There’s a lot of dedication and commitment that’s required of these roles and some have it in them – others don’t. It’s important to understand this level of dedication and commitment required and whether you’re up for it or not.

Passion for the job:

Having a passion for this field can make it feel less like work and more like being paid to do something you thoroughly enjoy. The job itself can be challenging and it can be tough in many ways. Being able to possess that passion needed is going to make all of it a lot easier to handle.

Respectful and balanced in opinion:

One of the final traits you need when it comes to being a carer is respect for others. At times, there are going to be patients who will test you. They may not give you respect but as a carer, you need to give them yours – something some may struggle with. Being balanced in opinion is also essential because you’ll need to be able to respect their choices and wishes.

These traits are just some of many that are needed for this type of role or career path. Make sure you tick them all off before pursuing it so the people you help can get the best quality of care!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

 

           

Sep28

4 Considerations When Looking After Elderly Parents

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4 Considerations When Looking After Elderly Parents

It can be a difficult task to take care of your retired parents, but with careful planning and execution, it doesn’t have to be. There are four essential things that you need to consider when looking after them: their health, finances, living situation, and their social life. In this blog post, we will go over each of these considerations in detail and provide you with advice on how to manage them best:

Their health:

As your parents age, their health will inevitably decline. It’s important to be proactive about their health and get regular checkups with their doctor. You should also create a list of their medications as well as hospitals and doctors that their insurance covers and keep it in a safe place. In case of an emergency, you or another family member can quickly reference this list and ensure that your parents are getting the care they need.

Their finances:

One of the most challenging conversations with elderly parents is about their financial situation. It can be hard to broach the topic, especially if they are reluctant to discuss it. However, it is vital to be aware of their financial situation for two reasons: 1) you need to know if they can support themselves and 2) you need to be on the lookout for signs of financial elder abuse.

If your parents are struggling financially, they have several options. For example, they may be eligible for government benefits or charity assistance. If they own their home, they may also be able to downsize or take out a reverse mortgage. Unfortunately, as far as financial elder abuse goes, this sadly is an all too real problem and can take form in many ways, so be sure to keep an eye on professionals dealing with your parent’s finances.

Their living situation:

Another important consideration is your parents’ living situation. If they can live independently, that’s great! But if they need some assistance, you’ll need to consider that. If they live in a retirement community, staff who can help with transportation or meals may be there. If they live in their own home, you’ll need to decide if it’s feasible for them to continue doing so. If not, you may need to help them find a new place to live.

Whatever their living situation, you’ll also need to consider how accessible it is. Can they get around safely? Do they have everything they need? Is it safe for them to be there? These are all critical things to consider when looking after your retired parents.

Their social life:

Finally, you’ll need to think about your parents’ social life. As people age, they often become more isolated and lose touch with their friends. Having a good support network and staying connected to the outside world will be especially beneficial to their mental health. There are a few ways you can do this:

  • Encourage them to join social clubs or groups
  • Make sure they see their friends regularly
  • Take them out for outings and activities

These are four essential considerations when looking after your retired parents or loved ones. If you can address these areas, you’ll be doing a great job of taking care of them!

Featured Image By: Andrea Piacquadio

May8

What’s A Career That Pays?

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What’s A Career That Pays?

Once you leave school, it’s fair to say that you’ll be spending the majority of your adult life working. As a result, you’ll build a career that, hopefully, will give you great satisfaction. However, the thing about your career is that it needs to do more than just keep you happy. As everyone works to earn money and make a living, you can expect your career to fulfill this objective, too. Ultimately, the question you need to ask yourself is whether it’s possible to find a job that pays the bills, that makes you happy, and that pays towards the greater good.

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You can earn a lot in a high-risk medical career

The invisible hand that helps:

There are professions that can change or save someone else’s life. But when these get too stressful to handle, you can pick the jobs that run in the shadow but still play a significant role. For instance, if you want to enter the healthcare system but don’t feel confident enough to deal with patients, you’ll appreciate the opportunities this Medical Billing and Coding Training gives you. With it, you can ensure that patients’ electronic health records are kept safely and accessed efficiently so that doctors can refer to it for further information.

The helper who builds the next generation:

If you want to see the difference you make, you can choose to prepare the next generation to tackle the challenges of modern life. Tomorrow’s doctors, engineers, and presidents are today’s pupils, and that’s why they need a good teacher. Everything starts with proper training on your topic but also on how to improve your classroom skills. It’s your duty to help students reach their full potential so that they can grow in confidence and knowledge with your help. In other words, a good teacher needs to help kids to learn and push them to discover further.

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Flickr Image

The one who makes the future:

How about you try to make the world a better place today? To do this, you need to choose a career that can target some of the biggest challenges of our generation, namely managing our impact on the environment. Architects, energy engineers, interior designers, and urban strategists have combined forces to create a house model that produces more energy than it consumes. You could help to distribute the model nationally or internationally, using your skills whether these are business-related or in engineering. It’s only when experts work together that they can achieve great results. Contrary to the common belief, it takes more than an environmentalist student to build a greener planet.

The actual money-making career:

Finally, you can also decide to focus on the monetary aspect of your career by picking high risk positions from doctors to CEOs. Careers that juggle a lot of risks and stress tend to be generously rewarded. Admittedly, it’s fair to say that to earn a lot you need to learn a lot and be confident in your skills to navigate through the dangers of your profession. In other words, a career that grows your income significantly is also a career that requires you to keep a cool head at all times.

Ultimately, there are many ways in which your career can pay towards the greater good, whether you’re thinking about your personal income or of saving lives. A career that pays could be any of these!