Forget Me Not: Techniques in Omaha Senior Care for Handling Dementia Patients

Some inevitable conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's may drastically take the conscious mind of the elderly. However, care for the mental and emotional well-being of your supposed “elders and betters” should not be neglected. Here are some of the prominent therapies done for patients with dementia that would help in preventing them from forgetting you or themselves:

Time-traveling with Reminiscence and Validation

A lot of dementia patients get preoccupied with past memories. Forcefully pushing these aside may harm their self-esteem and confuse them at times. Rewarding reviews of these memories (reminiscence) and empathizing with their relived feelings (validation) are done instead in Omaha senior care. Methods include keeping journals, scrapbook-making, story-telling and other adjunct activities.

The Sensible Trio for the Senses: Art, Music and Aromas

With scientific bases, engaging therapies stimulate the tactile, visual, auditory and olfactory senses. In simple terms, that's touching, seeing, hearing and smelling. These are piqued with art and crafts making, musical treats or playing and aromatherapy. Aside from allowing the senior to be creative, their expressive sides are tapped by letting them elaborate on their work or felt sensations.

Stimulating the Mind and Body Connection with Activity Therapy

Participation in activities provide the elderly mental stimulation through safe physical exercises. Recreational activities like games, aerobics and other behavioral therapies are supervised in settings for assisted living in Omaha. Even the old adage highlighting “laughter as the best medicine” is administered through a therapy called laughter yoga.

The Gift Called “Present” in Reality Orientation

There will be times that confusion becomes scary and destructive for patients with dementia. In those times, grounding them to the here and now proves to be a reassuring measure. Reality orientation entails tactful communication of the present, such as basic information about the patient and explanations of what they are experiencing.

Continue

The Big C: Caring for Terminally Ill Loved Ones

It may seem like the end of the world when a loved one gets diagnosed with cancer, especially when the illness is at the terminalstage. During this difficult time, the best one can do is provide a dying loved one with the proper end of life care that also takes into account the family’s emotional and moral welfare. This matter often requires the expertise of an assisted living specialist.

Some cancer specialists note several signs that the final phase is not too far away. These include gradual loss of weight and muscle structure, a lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities, and a repeated insistence to stay in bed. In many cases, patients are not inclined to see so many people.

To ease a loved one’s woes, the assigned carer can be tasked to change bed sheets at least twice a week, adjust the patient’s position, and ensure that any medication is administered on time. As terminally ill patients have cool limbs, it is best to massage them with warm water to boost circulation.

Losing a loved one to the Big C is no doubt a harrowing experience for any family. However, being able to look after their needs to the very end helps ease the pain.

Continue

3 Signs Your Parents Need Home Assistance

No dutiful son or daughter would think twice about enlisting home assistance services for one’s aging parents. After all, their parents took care of them until they were ready to become adults and vital members of society. Certain instances, in particular, warrant third-party senior care services.

Frequent accidents at home

You can design a home to be more senior-friendly, but you can’t make it entirely accident-proof. For instance, your elderly mom or dad may be simply reaching for the cereal box in the cupboard atop the kitchen counter but doesn’t notice the messy rug on the floor, thus tripping on it as a result. For seniors who have weak bones, these accidents pose hazards like bone fractures and concussions.

Personal hygiene challenges

When you were a kid, your parents always reminded you about the importance of good hygiene. This time around, it’s your turn to make sure they maintain optimum personal hygiene. If one or both parents are unable to take a bath properly or dress without much difficulty because of physical conditions like arthritis, it may be time to consider home assistance services.

Age-related diseases

Aging parents are no longer in the peak of their health and are, thus, prone to illnesses. If your parent has been diagnosed with a rather serious age-related disease like Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, or kidney failure, then you’ll want to provide only the best senior care.

Continue

Making a Bed while Someone is Lying On It

Outside the context of assisted living Omaha residents, there are so many simple tasks that we take for granted, like making a bed, for example. We are used to just waking up each morning and making our own beds, the task taking about half a minute.

When you’re caring for the elderly, a problem that is likely to come up is needing to make a bed while someone is still lying on it.

How can you ensure the person’s comfort throughout the process? The method that creates the least disturbance involves rolling the person to their side, then loosening the soiled linens on the vacated side of the bed and bunching them up into a small hump along the middle of the bed.

Then, spread the fresh linens on the vacated half of the bed, joining the rest of the fabric with the hump. Roll the person over the hump of fabric to the side with the fresh linens. Remove the soiled linens from the newly-vacated half of the bed and spread the rest of the fresh linens over it.  Replace the pillowcases and blankets as well.

Make sure to offer support to the person throughout the entire process, and always be aware of any catheters or any sort of equipment that may get caught while you’re changing the sheets. For more extensive assistance, call 402-671-0448.

Continue

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.

Continue

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?

Continue