All posts in Caregiver Services

Can Pets Have a Healing Effect on Seniors?

As they sink deeper into old age, our parents may feel increasingly lonely and depressed, especially if they live alone. Some seniors will complain about being abandoned and left out, some will act cranky and moody when you are around and others will simply choose to keep to themselves. 

Whatever the case may be, you must be looking for a way to help out when you’re away. You may consider hiring a professional caregiver or asking a neighbor or friend to check up on your aging loved one. You may also pursue another avenue altogether: pet ownership.

We often hear about the therapeutic effect of pets, especially dogs and cats, on human health. But do they truly have the healing power that is attributed to them and can they really benefit seniors and the elderly? Read on to find out more about what professional providers of home care in Westwood and other areas of Westside LA have to say.

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Should Your Senior Loved One Get a Pet?

On the one hand, a pet could help a person living alone feel less lonely, but on the other, taking care of a pet is a huge responsibility, especially when the owner is no longer independent enough to take care of themselves.

Whether it was your idea to get a furry friend for your aging parent, or they are the ones who are insisting on it, it’s important to think things through and put them into perspective. It is understandable why you may be skeptical or concerned about the decision and why you may want to give the idea a hard pass. Your head is probably full of questions.

Is pet ownership a sound next move for your senior loved one? How can you be certain if it will work out and they won’t change their mind later on? How can you be certain that you will not end up regretting the decision? Can pet ownership be integrated into homecare for seniors in Westwood and other areas across Los Angeles? 

So what are you to do? Before you jump in the car and drive to the nearest animal shelter, here is what you should know.

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How to Help Seniors Overcome Resistance to Care

Seniors and the elderly may be reluctant to accept changes in life and abandon their way of life. They often put up resistance to personal care and assistance, as it often means they are no longer considered to be sufficiently independent to look after themselves. This is a fairly common situation families face.

If your senior loved one is not comfortable accepting care from other family members or an outside source such as professionals providers of home care in Westwood, Westwood Village and nearby areas, what can you do to minimize their resistance to care and make the transition easier without exacerbating the conflict? 

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Guide to Respite Care Services

what is respite care

Caring for a loved one who is ill or recovering from an illness can be mentally and physically draining. What makes the situation worse is the fact that, despite your best effort, they might not be getting the level of care they deserve. This is where respite care comes into play. 

Quality home care is available in Westwood and the surrounding areas is more available and easier to find than ever. Having access to respite care when and as needed can make an enormous difference in the lives of recovering seniors and their families.

To find out more about respite care, read on!

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The Importance of Health Screening for Seniors

Us humans have a tendency to take things for granted, especially our health. As we get older, our health inevitably starts to deteriorate and go through detrimental changes. This can happen abruptly. However, it is never too early to undergo health screenings as part of preventive care. 

How often should you get a health screening

Early health screenings among the aging population, starting at the age of 50, can be an effective preventative measure to maintain health among the aging population. It’s biology 101: the older we get, the more attention and upkeep does our health demand and the need for regular medical testing increases accordingly. 

Take it from  professional providers of homecare in Sherman Oaks and other areas: being proactive about health and about monitoring changes in the body can be crucial to preserving one’s health and vitality and staying strong and fit longer. 

For more details, read on!

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Physical Therapy for Seniors 101

How does physical therapy help the elderly

Physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for seniors, especially when they deal with reduced mobility and pain. Whether they are recovering from an illness, injury or surgery, specialized senior rehabilitation program can help restore functionality, reduce pain and improve quality of life safely and effectively. 

Combining physical therapy with home care in Sherman Oaks, The Valley and other parts of LA could be the optimal solution for senior and elderly clients recovering from surgery, dealing with a recent injury or undergoing treatment for a chronic condition. 

So how exactly can seniors and the elderly benefit from physical therapy? Read on to find out more!

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How to Identify & Prevent Malnutrition in Seniors

No one is ever completely ready to switch roles with their parents, but for many of us, such a turn of events becomes simply inevitable at some point. Of course, you don’t have to take on the commitment all by yourself. There is a way to ensure your elderly loved one is safe and healthy even if you cannot be there yourself. 

Why are older adults at risk of malnutrition

An alternative solution that can work just as well, if not even better, is to hire a provider of home care in Sherman Oaks and nearby areas who can take good care of your loved one for you. 

A caregiver can also keep an eye out for your loved one, and may be the first to notice if anything is the matter. Case in point: malnutrition. Malnutrition is a condition which can severely compromise your loved one’s health. So how do you identify and prevent malnutrition in seniors?

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Exercise for Seniors: How Can Seniors Stay Active?

No matter how old you currently are, having an active lifestyle which incorporates exercise matters. It’s simple, really: if we take good care of our bodies, we’ll live longer and have a healthier, more fulfilling life. Physical activity is, or at least it should be, an essential part of who we are. But as we age, our ability to move our body may shift or even decline. Does that mean we should stop trying to keep up with an active lifestyle? Definitely not. 

Should seniors lift heavy weights

In fact, it means just the opposite: we should do our best to stay as active as possible. This is part of the reason why homecare in Sherman Oaks incorporates light physical activity and walking whenever possible. It is also why doctors recommend physical therapy to senior patients.

So what are the best physical activities for seniors and what is the best way for seniors to stay active?

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Why Do the Elderly Need Companionship

Humans are social beings, which is why it comes as little surprise that companionship can be greatly beneficial for our overall well being. In our younger years, we perceive socialization as a given. We are surrounded by people wherever we go, at school, in the university, at work or at home. Sometimes, we take this for granted. 

But as we start to age, circumstances begin to change rapidly: reality is much different for a large portion of the eldelry population who may become isolated upon retirement, downsizing or relocation, loss of a partner or spouse, health issues and other factors. So why do providers of senior home care in Santa Monica place so much importance on socialization?

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How Does Anxiety Affect the Elderly?

All around us, anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly common. Although they are not a natural part of the aging process and should not be accepted as such, they appear to be especially common among middle-aged and senior citizens. Perhaps the modern way of life has something to do with the trend. Anxiety can be overwhelming, and its symptoms can be so severe that they require treatment, which is why we need to be there for those struggling with it

When it comes to the elderly, the risk of developing anxiety and depression could be considerably higher if they live alone and have limited mobility: they often become isolated and deprived of companionship or even a remote possibility of a social life, which further raises the risk. 

It is a vicious circle, but you can help break it, and professionals working in the domain of home care in Santa Monica can help you do that. But how exactly do we recognize anxiety, what is its effect on the elderly and what is the best mechanism to cope with it?

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