Sarah is swamped with work and concerned about the outcome of her upcoming child custody hearing because she and her estranged husband failed to work things out. No wonder she didn’t notice that her mom was becoming increasingly forgetful, and for reasons other than old age. Little does she know that her mother’s condition could deteriorate rapidly without proper care and treatment.
Many seniors experience memory issues and this is a normal part of getting old. But for some seniors, these issues are signs of a more serious predicament: Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Being diagnosed with dementia is devastating news for the person with the condition and their loved ones.
So what is a memory care and what are its benefits for individuals struggling with dementia-related memory loss? What are the more affordable alternatives to memory care?
What is included in memory care?
Memory care is a specialized form of adult care. It is sometimes also referred to as Alzheimer’s care, because Alzheimer’s disease is the most widely known form of dementia. Within memory care, individuals struggling with a form of dementia receive 24-hour care whereas specialized memory care facilities also provide housing combined with 24-hour care.
These facilities focus on making the residents’ living environment safe and comfortable. The environment is uniquely designed to create a sense of familiarity and intimacy, reduce confusion and prevent wandering. These are typical behaviors of individuals battling dementia which may have devastating consequences.
Memory care can have a considerable positive impact on patients with dementia and greatly improve their quality of life. Patients get to spend time in a secure, familiar environment and specialized staff takes care of their needs.
However, memory care is expensive. Although Medicare covers some aspects of dementia, the vast majority of patients cannot afford it. This is why their families often look for alternatives such as adult day care services, family caregivers or home caregivers with experience in assisting clients with dementia.
What is the difference between assisted living and memory care?
Individuals with memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia can be physically fit and mobile, especially in the early stages of the disease. But as the condition progresses, they require a higher level of care, assistance, and supervision.
The staff at a memory care facility has undergone specialized training. They have experience in helping patients with dementia. Residents may also have access to and benefit from memory-enhancing therapies. On the other hand, memory care facilities may be too restrictive for someone with early onset of dementia.
Assisted living facilities, on the other hand, are primarily intended for individuals who are unable to cope with daily activities and need assistance with meal preparation, personal hygiene, medication regimens, etc., usually because of considerable mobility issues or other medical conditions. This housing facility is suitable for people with disabilities but it is also available to other individuals who cannot or choose not to live independently and on their own.
How do you know if your loved one needs memory care?
A person does not need to be officially diagnosed with a dementia-related condition for its friends and family to know that something is wrong. Often, a person with dementia will undergo a radical, visible decline in overall health.
Signs and symptoms of dementia can become more dangerous over time and lead to life-threatening outcomes, so it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. In addition to serious signs of memory loss, the person may show the following physical signs:
Issues with the medication regimen (skipping doses or overdosing)
No food in the house
Various forms of self-neglect (lack of personal hygiene, poor feeding, not wearing appropriate clothing, not tending to medical conditions)
Drastic weight loss
Hunched posture
Strange bruising, fractures or other injuries
Unpaid bills
Missing important appointments
Alienation from social circle
Individuals with dementia need person-centered dementia care within a full continuum of care coordinated across other physical and mental health care services. But especially beneficial for dementia patients is that they feel safe, comfortable, and familiar with their living environment.
If you notice signs of memory loss in a family member, it may be time to consult a specialist and see if your aging loved one may be battling a chronic illness. That way, they can start treatment in a timely manner.
Your safest choice for homecare in Cheviot Hills and other LA neighborhoods
Catering to the specific needs of your aging loved one can be challenging and demanding, especially if they are experiencing dementia-induced memory loss. But that does not mean they need to resign themselves to a life of solitude and infinite restrictions.
No environment feels as secure as home. This is where we come in. We can match you with experienced caregivers who are capable of dealing with any scenario. We can help you find a compassionate and caring senior care professional with a kind and patient bedside manner, one who will show up at your loved one’s home in Cheviot Hills or elsewhere in LA ready to provide them with the care they need. Contact us today to find out more.
At long last, we have reached the point at which we can hope to leave the uncertainty we faced throughout the year 2020 behind us. The prospect of the world bringing the pandemic under control seems realistic, as long as we remain careful and continue to take certain precautions to protect ourselves and those around us. Although it is far from over, we are in a better place than we were a year ago. Easier access to personalized home care in Cheviot Hills and other areas can also significantly contribute to the quality of life of seniors across the LA County region.
But what are the key takeaways from the pandemic? What does it mean for the senior population?
Is the coronavirus pandemic affecting our mental health?
One can argue that the pandemic has changed Americans of all ages and that will life may never be completely the same again. Some have picked up valuable lessons from the experience, while others may have bitter memories of the whole period.
But how has the pandemic affected seniors? Aside from the obvious damage to the physical health in those who have contracted but managed to overcome the virus, being under lockdown and forced into isolation has taken a toll on seniors’ mental health.
What can be done to help the elderly during the coronavirus disease pandemic?
Individuals with pre-existing mental, neurological or other conditions, which is often the case with the elderly population, may be more vulnerable to the COVID-19 infection and they may face a higher risk of severe outcomes. But now that vaccination is underway and the pandemic seems to be more manageable, we all feel more at ease and safer going about our daily lives and adjusting to the new normal which is beginning to resemble the life before the pandemic.
Still, for seniors and the elderly, there is still a risk that the situation may take an unexpected turn for the worse and that they will once again be deprived of the possibility to engage in normal, healthy social interactions and other activities.
Seniors across the country face similar challenges that had been there long before the pandemic, especially among the newly retired. But the pandemic has further isolated seniors from the rest of the community. It is therefore for friends and family to discuss these issues openly with their senior loved ones and be mindful of the following:
Seniors living alone at home often face unmet needs, but professional senior care providers can help close that gap.
Now more than ever, aging individuals need mental health and psychosocial support.
If the pandemic has taught us anything in terms of senior care, it is how valuable any programs which enable seniors to stay in their homes are, and that staying out of long-term care facilities is often in the best interest of seniors across the country.
Inability to connect with family and loved ones was one of the key challenges for most seniors during the pandemic and isolation has also been a barrier for quality senior care during COVID-19.
In addition to the risk of the disease itself, there are the lingering effects of the pandemic to cope with, especially for those who have lost a loved one to it.
Helping seniors become more savvy and confident about using and communicating through technology is a simple and effective way to help them cope with the pandemic and help them feel less isolated.
Tailored senior home care in Cheviot Hills and other LA communities
Seniors need a connection with their loved ones, and when that is not an option, caregivers are there to step in and help out. Explore flexible senior home care plans for senior residents of Venice and the surrounding areas of LA and LA County. When seniors have their basic care such as housekeeping and meals taken care of, they are in a better position to enjoy living as a healthy, independent adult. At A Better Way in Home Care, we work hard to continually improve seniors’ access to quality in-home care. For more information, do not hesitate to contact us anytime.
Seniors in the United States now live longer than ever before and the quality of life for American seniors is better than ever before. What’s more, many senior adults happily reach their senior years without any serious health concerns. And it just so happens that early retirement could further increase lifespan.
A large portion of the senior population is capable of living independently or with some assistance. Some choose to move to a retirement home or a less traditional alternative such as a retirement community, others to downsize, but often the preferred option for seniors across the country is to continue living in their own homes. On top of that, LA seniors have easier access to homecare in Cheviot Hills and other communities across the city of Los Angeles.
So what are some reasons to consider early retirement and how can you help your senior loved one adjust to their new way of life?
What are good reasons to retire?
If a person has spent a lifetime focusing on their career, they may eventually become fed up with workplace stress and burnout, and ready for a radical change. Seniors may opt for early retirement for a number of other reasons, depending on personal circumstances:
Stable financial standing
Ability to enjoy life and explore new possibilities such as pursuing old passions or taking up new hobbies
Now that work is no longer the focal point, things are much more flexible and there is less pressure to deal with. But many seniors have a hard time adapting because they are used to being productive and feel useless once they retire. To help a senior adjust to retirement, consider the following options:
Be prepared for the retiree to go through a broad spectrum of emotions: happiness, confusion, anxiety, boredom
Help them adopt healthy coping mechanisms
Recommend engaging activities for a more fulfilling retirement routine, such as growing their friendships and expanding their social circle or adopting a pet from the local animal shelter
Help them set small goals like spending every Saturday with their grandchildren or taking a roadtrip on a monthly basis
Look for convenient part-time jobs such as mentoring young people or volunteering opportunities such as tutoring kids in the area
Help them create a realistic long-term budget
Take advantage of technology: The internet has become an integral part of everyone’s daily lives, and seniors are no exception. With the help of user-friendly technology, retirees can easily keep in touch with their family and friends or even learn new skills.
How long does it take to adjust to retirement?
Each person is different. For some, the first few months of retirement is an exciting time of newfound freedom and thrilling opportunities, for others, it is a source of stress, frustration, anxiety and a difficult period of psychological adjustment. All this may also depend on what other changes retirement involves.
Living in an intimate, tight-knit community surrounded by friendly neighbors is the ideal scenario we all imagine as the life we will lead as we age, but for many seniors, this is not a realistic scenario. Some retired seniors may need to or choose to downsize and relocate to reduce their costs of living.
A caregiver can help ease the transition for new retirees if family members are not around, especially for those retirees who have recently downsized for the purpose of cutting down their expenses.
Personalized homecare solutions in Cheviot Hills and areas across LA
Access to quality senior care from the comfort of one’s home, especially in the light of the ongoing pandemic, can make a huge difference in a person’s life. If you want to make sure your recently retired parent enjoys a healthy, fulfilled life and an independent lifestyle in Venice or other parts of LA, we can help you make it happen.
The caregiver we refer offer a full continuum of care for seniors and we can work out an arraignment that works best for you and that best accommodates seniors’ changing needs. Let us help you overcome the challenges of coordinating your senior loved one’s care. For more details on the services offered by our referred caregivers, contact us anytime.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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?
