All posts in In Home Care Services

How to Help Seniors Adjust to Early Retirement?

At a certain age, we start to value our time more. And if we look at age as just a number, then early retirement sounds like the perfect opportunity for a new chapter in life

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
  • Spending more time with friends and family 
  • Chance to improve one’s health

Having a caregiver to rely on for trips to the grocery store, help around the house or mere companionship can be especially convenient for those looking to explore early retirement options due to health issues. Caregivers can help newly retired seniors with limited mobility or similar issues enjoy independent living, especially when family members do not live close by, or provide customized care to seniors battling deteriorating conditions such as dementia or other chronic illnesses. 

How do you help someone adjust to retirement?

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.

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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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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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How Do You Help Seniors Move and Move On?

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. 

What do you do when your elderly parent refuses to move

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!

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