Keeping the Blues at Bay: Caregivers and Depression

Compassion and sympathy are two of the most important traits an individual should possess if they wish to have a career in assisted living in Omaha. Seniors are just like any other elderly everywhere: prone to feeling down from the burden of the years, and the people who look after them are in a position to absorb and resolve that negativity.

Awareness is Key

It is crucial to be aware of the possibility of depression in the assisted living industry. Knowing the most common emotional problems that afflict seniors, these issues become easier to manage when they inevitably emerge. This puts you in a better position to be of most help to your loved one.

Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Help

Just as we give so much of ourselves to give care to others, we also require help for ourselves from time to time. Actively seek out a support system of friends, family and peers to talk to when work becomes difficult. It’s very important for you as a caregiver to know that you are not alone. It's helpful to know that there are many who share your experiences, or at least have a willing ear to listen.

Never hesitate to get professional help when you feel that you need it. Remember that taking care of your own emotional well-being is integral to your ability to provide the care your loved one needs.

Depression can occur frequently in Omaha senior living situations, and understanding this will equip you with the means to be a firm emotional anchor for your loved one.

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Dietary Care for Seniors

A healthy diet is beneficial for every person no matter how old or young, but good nutrition is especially critical among seniors. More than that, however, is the consideration that each senior may be afflicted with different groups or combinations of diseases, which could affect the types of food that they can or cannot eat. Since feeding is such a big part of home health care in Omaha, residents taking care of elderly relatives will want to know the best way to make sure that their loved-ones are fed right.

Make Good Culinary Choices

As people grow old, their stomachs and metabolism get weaker. They may feel discomfort while eating because of dentures or oral implants, and gradually lose their sense of taste and smell. Slowly, all the things that made eating such a worthy activity are disappearing or becoming uncomfortable. Therefore, it is important to emphasize cooking foods that not only taste good, but are packed with nutrients that meet the seniors' daily needs. Nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, bright-colored vegetables, deep-colored fruits, and low or non-fat dairy products are highly recommended.

Avoid Bad Food Calls

Just as it is important to make good choices on food served to seniors, bad decisions will also have to be avoided. Stay away from sugar, especially simple sugars, since overconsumption of this can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate wildly, which could lead to type II diabetes. It is important to avoid high-fat meat and dairy as well. The saturated fat in these foods can block arteries, and result in heart ailments. Consult with your doctor as well, as there may be other dietary options that will have to be avoided because of some senior-onset diseases or contraindications in medication. When talking with the doctor, it is ideal to discuss the specific consequences or side effects one can expect if the dietary guidelines are not followed.

While it is important to control the diet of senior citizens, you should also consider the fact that they are still adults, and are more likely to want to assert their independence. So while it may be difficult to give the proper standards of senior care, Omaha residents should firmly yet gently guide their senior loved ones to the right path. If it gets too overwhelming to take care of seniors, assisted living professionals like those from Comfort Keepers are always ready to help.

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Bedroom Care for an Aging Loved One

As your loved ones age, living alone can be challenging. There will come a time when you have to be with them often and assist them with their daily needs. This includes caring for them when they sleep or rest in their bedrooms. Caring for the elderly requires patience and this is exactly what professional services such as Comfort Keepers provides. Their goal is to provide the best senior care that Omaha residents can hope for. 

However, some people prefer a personal touch when caring for a family member. If you are one of those, here is some advice on how to care for a senior loved one.

Keep The Bedroom Safe and Clutter-free

Older people have weaker bodies and tend to bruise easily. This is because as we get older, our skin becomes thinner and our capillaries become more fragile, making it easier for the elderly to get bruised. Although this is not a serious matter, it is a good idea to prevent this happening. Ensure that the bedroom is furnished with a lot of soft surfaces, and de-clutter the room to reduce the chances of bumps or falls.

Facilitate Healthy Sleep

For seniors, it often takes longer, and is more difficult, to fall asleep. Additionally, they tend to wake up numerous times during the night. Some of the possible causes of this include the body's natural aging process, neurological and other medical conditions, effects of medication and even mood disorders. Whatever the case may be, it is crucial to help seniors get sufficient sleep. Avoid serving them caffeine-based drinks or big meals close to bedtime. It is also a good idea to encourage them to make it a habit to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. Exercising early in the morning will greatly help as well.

Keep Medicines Nearby

As we get older, medicines become a huge part of our daily routine. Since the elderly have limited mobility, it's important to keep important items such as medicines nearby. This avoids the need for them to leave their bed or their bedroom to get their medicine. This lessens the risk of them bumping into things or falling off the bed.

Arguably one of the most difficult things you'll have to do for a family member is senior care Omaha. Residents have the heart and dedication to care for their loved ones even in the twilight years. However, if things get too tough, feel free to call a trusted senior care provider like Comfort Keepers.

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The Two Most Important Traits of a Comfort Keeper

Not anyone can be a Comfort Keeper, a provider of some of the best home health care Omaha has to offer. This isn’t a matter of exclusivity. Far from any notion of elitism, the notion of being a Comfort Keeper isn’t associated with any grand accolades. Ours is a gentle work that springs from giving hearts. To be a Comfort Keeper, you must have:

A Caring, Loving Spirit

Providing health care to those who have come to find it difficult to fend for themselves is an act of noble mercy and unconditional love. It takes a caring spirit to truly find fulfillment and solace in our work, but those who manage to are among the best of folk. If you are drawn to compassion and are possessed of an inclination to aid those who need it most, you may find not only a suitable calling, but also good employ with us.

The Desire to Take an Active Role in Helping Others

Here at Comfort Keepers, we’re aware that just keeping our clients fed and clean do not form the boundaries of our responsibility. We realize that our clients deserve far more than a hand to hold the spoon to their mouths, but a companion in retaining the love of life.

Comfort Keepers should be willing to take steps in making positive changes in their clients’ daily lives that go beyond meeting their physical needs. You would make a great Comfort Keeper if you are driven to become an active conduit of happiness, and if you are naturally vitalized by exercising your capability to make others’ lives not just easier, but better.

To be a Comfort Keeper is far more than a job. It is more of a calling to those who are energized by giving of themselves. If you feel that you are suited to provide the level of senior care Omaha is beloved for, we may have a home for you.

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What Does Your Local Senior Center Have to Offer?

Still undecided on why you should join a senior center?

According to NCOA (National Council on Aging), older adults who utilize senior centers experience significant improvement to their whole wellbeing (physical, social, spiritual, emotional, mental, and even economic). Moreover, older adults learn to manage and delay the onset of chronic disease as well. Being part of your local senior center is a fun and healthy accompaniment to Omaha senior living.

Since senior adults are now living longer and staying active, senior centers designed a variety of programs for every individual's needs. These facilities provide a welcome break from home and the usual places.

Education

Whether you are particularly interested with writing, gardening, music, dancing, painting, public speaking, education, or photography, you will always have something to do and you will never have a room for boredom! Senior centers do offer a lot of educational activities for everyone.

Fitness

Senior centers in Omaha, is now offering fitness programs for older adults. Exercise programs are meant to keep the senior adults' bodies active and healthy. Members can use the fitness equipment available in the center for their own enjoyment, with the assistance of their care providers.

Travel

Senior centers are known for sponsoring trips. Exclusive members experience 24-hour adventure to a 7-day adventure. The travel program likely includes advance planning of the trip, transportation, stops, meals and sleeping arrangements. So all you or your loved has to do is pack!

Job

People who are past age 60 are still enjoying their careers. In case you have retired already, but are still interested to work, senior centers offer job resources to help you make your dreams come true!

Joint Programs

Everyone is given the chance to grow and learn from each other. Age difference is not an issue. That is why most senior centers facilitate joint programs. Joint programs are group activities wherein the participation of teens and adults are being encouraged. Senior center visits are a great way to achieve the best assisted living Omaha can offer.

Now, what's stopping you from joining a senior center?

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Assisted Living and Home Care: Letting the Young Once Stay at Home

There are several factors that affect the median age in a given state. Among those are the birth rate, the mortality rate due to old age, the tendency of young people to leave the state, and so on. The population of people 65 years old and above in the US is increasing more quickly than the working age sector, so there will be fewer caregivers relative to the number of people who need home care. Thus, there will be a greater demand for senior care in Omaha.

Many senior citizens would much prefer to stay at home rather than spend their days in a nursing home or similar assisted living facility. And it's a small wonder why most of them do; we are all creatures of habit, to a certain extent, and the older we get, the more we want to cling to memories of happy days past. The photographs of the children seem to grow more precious by the day, and recollections of moments spent in the different rooms of the house start popping up out of the blue.

It is not just a matter of sentimentality, though. As we grow older, our ability to adjust to new circumstances decreases. As we age, therefore, it is more important for us to be able to stay in familiar living conditions. Day-to-day living becomes more dependent on routine as one grows older, and it becomes more and more important to have simple systems. Where do you keep the medicine? Where are the keys to the car? The older one gets, the more important it is to have a place for everything, and everything in its place. Being moved to a new home takes away that control.

Those are some of the reasons behind assisted living. Omaha, NE senior residents who do not wish to leave the homes they have lived in for many years deserve the chance, and the choice, to stay where they are. While they cannot be left totally alone, they can retain a certain degree of independence by receiving home care.

Families of senior citizens living in Omaha, NE who do not wish their loved ones to be put in a nursing home can contact a home care provider. Qualified providers should be able to assist the elderly for whom everyday living is becoming much more challenging. For those who want only the best for their aging relatives, it is important to look for home care service providers that have a proven track record and favorable feedback from their clients.

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