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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
As we age, many things change. We enter retirement. Our lifestyle is no longer as active. Our social circle starts to dwindle, and so do our energy levels. Our financial circumstances change as well. We finally have free time to do whatever we want, but the irony is that we may lose a sense of purpose. But if there is one thing humans are good at, it is the ability to adapt and evolve. And if there is one thing professional providers of homecare in Hollywood are good at, it is bringing an enhanced quality of life to the elderly, regardless of the circumstances.
To make an informed decision together with your loved one, you need to develop a firm understanding of what downsizing and relocation mean for the elderly, how you can help them overcome the related hardships and move on so they could leave a more fulfilling, more rewarding life.
Here’s what you can do to turn your elderly loved one’s experience of downsizing and relocation into a comfortable, liberating one!
