Senior Safety

Home Care During the Pandemic: Keeping Seniors Safe For the past several months, family caregivers have had to manage seemingly monumental challenges in connection with the care of the seniors they love. With COVID-19’s specific dangers to the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, such as COPD, diabetes, heart problems, and others which are common in the elderly, families have struggled with keeping seniors safe and knowing how to best protect their older loved ones. To that end, some families made the very difficult choice to pause home care services to avoid having anyone outside of the family come into the home – meaning they were suddenly responsible for full-time elder care. Without a care partner, this alone is often unbelievably stressful, but add to that the many other new responsibilities and concerns as a result of the pandemic, such as shifting to working virtually, caring for young children who could no longer attend school or daycare, and more.  To say it is been an overwhelming time is an understatement,…

Summer Heat Safety for Seniors The warmer weather may finally be here, but too much heat is not safe for anyone. It is even riskier if you are older or have health problems. It is important to get relief from the heat quickly. If not, you might begin to feel confused or faint.  Older people can have a tough time dealing with heat and humidity. The temperature inside or outside does not have to reach 100°F (38°C) to put them at risk for a heat-related illness. Headache, confusion, dizziness, or nausea could be a sign of a heat-related illness. Being hot for too long can be a problem (especially without air conditioning) and can cause several illnesses: Heat syncope is a sudden dizziness that can happen when you are active in hot weather. If you take a heart medication (beta blocker) or are not used to hot weather, you are even more likely to feel faint. Rest in a cool place, put legs up, and drink water to make the dizzy feeling go away. Heat cramps are the painful tightening of muscles in your stomach, arms, or…

Windsor-Essex Home Care Provider Recommends the Best Technology Solutions for Aging in Place It doesn't matter if you are trying to tune a guitar, learn a new language, or just add cats’ ears to a selfie, there is an app for that! And for seniors who prefer to age in place, technology may be an essential element in improving safety, comfort, and overall wellbeing.  Take Amazon’s Alexa, as an example. Whereas its current benefits for seniors are many, like the ability to track sugar levels, make medical appointments, and research information related to a certain health issue, it is actually poised to dig even deeper within the medical care arena – maybe even detecting heart attacks and helping doctors obtain precise diagnoses. Here are several additional technology solutions you might want to consider for an older adult you love: Home Security: A motion-detecting security system provides peace of mind related to crime prevention; however, often it can perform a lot more tasks, such as alerting when sensing smoke, broken glass, or when temperatures in the house are abnormally…

Activities for Seniors To Find Meaning and Purpose in Everyday Life Think of a regular day in the life of a senior loved one. Hopefully it provides a couple of uplifting and enriching experiences: enjoying breakfast, engaging in a pleasant activity or interest, visiting with a friend or relative, watching a popular TV show. Nevertheless there is a difference between positivity and purpose.  The need for a life rich with meaning and purpose is becoming more apparent, especially in the life of senior loved ones. Viktor Frankl, world-renowned psychiatrist and survivor of the Holocaust, explains poignantly, “What matters is not the meaning in life in general, but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.” For individuals whose identity has been focused entirely on a profession and raising a family, and who now have reached a season of retirement and fulfilled family responsibilities, it could be hard to find other meaning and purpose. At Amy’s Helping Hands, we make it a top priority to help identify activities for seniors…

Wandering and Alzheimer’s Disease: Why It Happens and How to Help Of the numerous impacts of Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most concerning is the individual's tendency for wandering and also the potential dangers which could arise in the event that the senior becomes disoriented or lost. Wandering can take place if the older adult is: Scared, confused or overwhelmed Trying to find someone or something Bored Wanting to maintain a familiar former routine (for example, going to work or shopping) Taking care of a basic need (such as looking for a drink of water or going to the bathroom) The goal is twofold; to keep the senior safe and secure, as well as to ensure his or her needs are met to try and stop the desire to wander. Try the following safety measures if your loved one is prone to wander: Be certain that the house is equipped with a security system and locks that your senior loved one is unable to master, such as a sliding bolt lock out of his or her range of vision. Many different alarms exist, from something as simple as placing a bell over…

Summer Activities for Seniors & Caregivers Enjoying the warm summer temperatures doesn't have to be a distant memory for elders and caregivers. Finding an interesting activity that is suitable for a senior’s abilities may take some creativity and planning, but it is well worth switching up the routine and getting out of the house. The Benefits of Getting Outside A main advantage of heading outdoors, even for a short period of time, is being able to soak up some sunlight. Sun exposure generates vitamin D, which is necessary for a healthy brain, bones and muscles. Getting out also enables elders to socialize with new people, and be stimulated by new experiences and environments. Ideas for Outdoor Activities When selecting activities to do with your loved one, focus on hobbies and interests that they used to enjoy. What is something they always wanted to try? Don’t be afraid to ask what they miss doing or what they’d like to revisit. Have a couple of suggestions prepared to choose from and head outside to enjoy the day together.…