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.

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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.

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Questions You Need To Ask About Assisted Living

So it has come to the point where questions regarding the need for additional assistance are being introduced. This is often a difficult and emotional situation, but it must addressed. It is important to remember that just because your loved one is aging, it doesn't mean that they can't live a happy and fulfilling life. With that in mind, here are some of the more pertinent questions that you must address.

What is Assisted Living?

At the time when your aging loved one can no longer satisfactorily attend to their daily needs, some assistance may be required. Assisted living doesn't necessarily mean joining a senior community or “being put in a home” as most people fear. Any aid, medical or otherwise, can also be provided by in-home health care agencies. Omaha, NE seniors are therefore given the choice to either enter a senior living community or be cared for in their own homes.

What services will be provided?

This all depends on the needs and abilities of your aging loved one. Services can range from simple housekeeping to specific medical care. A proper overall assessment is key to identifying what services might be required.

What is the most important thing to consider?

It is all about the caregiver. No matter what assistance is to be provided, the skill and knowledge of the caregiver should be the primary consideration. The health and safety of your aging loved ones must be assured by their ability to handle any situation that may arise. It is also quite important that the elder requiring this assistance feel at ease with the caregiver as they will be working together intimately.

Considering assisted living for your loved ones is a big step. It is important to ensure not only their health and safety but also the degree to which a high quality of life can be maintained. That is the best kind of senior care Omaha home health care agencies can provide. Looking beyond the medical and practical and seeing and caring for the person who is in need of the assistance.

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Fun Activities for the Elderly: A Guide for Comfort Keepers

Omaha senior living doesn't have to be all drab and boring. What better way to spice things up than with a daily excursion? It is no secret, though, that there are some activities the elderly won't be able to participate in or enjoy. So when planning your senior's day-out, be sure to find activities that they will enjoy without too much physical exertion.

Swimming. 

Be it at the beach or at the pool, swimming is a great activity for any day’s vacation. Senior or not, everyone appreciates a refreshing dip. The water provides excellent support when moving about so it shouldn't put to much strain on knees, hips or backs. If it’s a trip to the beach, however, make sure that they are up for a walk through the sand, since that could cause mobility issues.

Open Mic Night. 

 Doing a lot of walking around isn't always a senior's idea of fun. Usually they like activities that involve taking it easy, but that doesn’t automatically mean that it can’t be a fun excursion. How about having an open mic/karaoke night? It's fun and entertaining and it won't take a lot out of the elderly participants.

Catch a show. 

Be it a movie or a play, or any performance for that matter. It is interesting, entertaining and doesn't require a lot of walking or moving around for that matter. It is also a great way to learn more about the culture of a place. At the same time, it stimulates the mind improving alertness and mental acuity.

They may have gotten along in years but it doesn't mean that our elderly loved ones don't want to get away now and again too. Everyone needs a change of pace, a change of scenery. To enjoy the best senior care in Omaha, seniors deserve a trip now and then. Be it just a weekend getaway or a trip that lasts a few days, you'll find that our enthusiastic seniors are up for it!

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Taking Care of a Loved One without Taking Yourself For Granted

When we think of love, we think that it is motivated by a spirit of giving. We show love by giving gifts, time, energy, and loving gestures. And seeing how these acts help the ones we love can be very rewarding. But sometimes things get very difficult. It can be challenging to provide for the needs of others, especially in the case of senior care. Omaha residents with aging relatives must give the best of themselves, so they have to avoid getting stressed or burned out.

Care for yourself

Make sure you have spare moments and opportunities to care for yourself. Exercise is an essential part of it, as being fit can give you added energy. Getting the rest you need—at least seven hours—is also essential. A well-balanced diet is also ideal, as the nutrients you get can also affect your moods and your ability to care for others when they need you. You can also get away from it all once in a while. It doesn't have to be an expensive trip. You can escape, even just for a moment, by having a hobby. Finding humor in everyday situations or taking in a funny movie now and then can also be very helpful. Writing in a journal to express yourself can also effectively relieve stress.

Sharing the burden

Sometimes, you just can't make it on your own. That's why it is so important to have a social network to help you. Friends are an essential source of emotional support. The same can be said of your faith and faith community, which can also be a good source of caregiving help. If you have a trusted relative or friend you can ask to call and check up on you once in a while, it would also be helpful.

Confiding in others is a great way to relieve stress. Even if the problem you have is not solved directly, sharing your frustrations about certain situations can help ease your mind. If you're lucky, the person you're confiding in can also offer helpful advice.

Even if you follow all of these tips, it's still possible that you cannot fully cope. Should you determine that caring for a loved one is taking too much from you, you might consider hiring professional Home health care in Omaha. Seniors have several excellent options, including Comfort Keepers, to choose from.

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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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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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