September is Pain Awareness Month, dedicated to recognizing the millions of people living with chronic pain and the need for better management and understanding of this condition.
According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic pain affects an estimated 20% of U.S. adults, costing the US economy an estimated $560-$635 billion annually in medical expenses and lost productivity.
It's no surprise that our eyesight changes as we age, and it’s important to take preventative measures to keep our vision in the best condition possible. August is National Eye Exam month and eye exams play a key part in maintaining good eye health for the older adults we care for and ourselves.
If you’re on the fence about hiring an in-home caregiver and want to find out more about the benefits of in-home caregiving, you’ve come to the right place.
As our loved ones age, they may not be able to do the things they used to do without assistance. It’s common for older adults to want to stay in their homes as long as possible instead of going to a care community, even as their condition may become worse over time. In fact, roughly 1 in every 3 older adults wishes to age in place, or in their homes, for as long as possible. This is understandable—would you want to leave your home to go to an unfamiliar community or assisted living neighborhood after being in your home for 30-plus years? Probably not. Aging in place and hiring an in-home caregiver to help your loved one has numerous benefits.
Keep reading below to learn why you should consider hiring an in-home caregiver and the benefit of doing so!
June is Great Outdoors Month, just in time for summer! During the summertime, there is no shortage of outdoor activities for every age or physical condition in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
The benefits of getting outside, even for a few minutes every day has numerous benefits for older adults. Not only does it encourage physical activity, but it also boosts emotional health and offers vital nutrients such as vitamin D which is most effective when it’s obtained by sunlight. Spending time in nature helps people of any age, including seniors and older adults feel more connected and refreshed to the world around us. Keep reading below to learn more about the benefits of getting outside, as well as a few critical outdoor safety tips.
Sleep is vital to all the body’s processes. It helps the body regulate its metabolism, improves mood, and increases energy. As we age, sleeping can become more difficult. Medications, pain, anxiety, changing hormones, and other medical conditions can affect the quality of sleep and cause sleep disorders such as insomnia. Practicing good sleep hygiene can improve the outlook for older adults who may be suffering from troubled sleep, and some of those tips are below!
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the nervous system that affects movement and speech. It occurs when the neurons in the brain responsible for producing dopamine, a chemical that helps to regulate movement, begin to degenerate. This leads to a variety of symptoms, including tremors, stiffness, slow movement, and problems with balance and coordination.
The disease can affect younger people, but it is most commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 60. There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are treatments available that can help to manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. It is a slowly progressing disease, so maintaining a high quality of life is still very possible for those who have the disease.
If you have a loved one with Parkinson’s disease, it can be difficult to know how to support them. Keep reading below for some tips to help you provide the best possible care for your loved one with Parkinson's Disease.
As we age, our bodies change and we may be more susceptible to chronic health conditions. One of those conditions is depression. The likelihood of your aging loved one suffering from depression depends on a variety of factors, such as new or worsening health problems, previous bouts of mental illness, as well as how connected they are to their communities, friends, and family.
Depression affects people of any age, but as we get older, it can become more likely. The aging process is difficult for everyone and becomes especially difficult when your loved one may not be able to do as much as they used to be able to do, debilitating medical conditions take hold, or they begin to lose lifelong friends from age. It’s a transitional time in a person’s life.
Dementia is a progressive brain disease that affects memory, thinking, behavior, and communication. It's a common condition among seniors, and it can be challenging for families and caregivers to provide appropriate care as the disease progresses.
Understanding the stages of dementia can help you provide better care to your aging loved ones.
At some point in your life, you will likely be tasked to care for a loved one either due to illness, injury, or age-related complications. One of the most common and long-term types of caregiving is related to caring for an elderly loved one, be it a family member, spouse, or friend. As people age, they face an increased risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or a decline in general health. Most of the time, depending on the family’s situation, the responsibility of caring for a loved one falls on a spouse or close relatives such as an adult child or sibling.
Keep reading below to learn some great self-care tips that can help bring back balance into your life as a caregiver.
The holidays are upon us! The holidays can be a stressful time with all the hustle and bustle, especially for our aging loved ones who may not be able to do as much anymore due to age-related physical or cognitive complications. There are still ways to get them involved in the process and have a wonderful time with them, no matter what. Keep reading below for some of our tips!
When considering in-home care and how aging is affecting your loved ones, consider Activities of Daily Living and how well they can be performed on a daily basis. Many people can go a long time being independent and not needing care, and others may decline quickly.
The aging process varies from person to person and takes into account how well they have taken care of themselves thus far, as well as genetic conditions they are susceptible to and more. Keep reading below for ideas on how to assess your loved one and determine when it's time to hire an in-home caregiver.
If you’ve ever been the one primarily responsible for the care of your aging loved ones, you know that it’s hard work and it can feel incredibly overwhelming.
As a caregiver, especially if you have your own life outside of caring for your loved one (children, a full-time job etc) you will likely become burnt out at some point. Depending on the care needs of your loved one, arranging appointments, and respite care, it’s easy to forget to care for yourself. That’s where it can be helpful to find a caregiving support group near you that can help you network and engage with other caregivers and share your stories and frustrations. But how do you start? Keep reading below to learn more about how to pick the best caregiver support group near you.
As we age, it’s vitally important that we do our best to keep ourselves healthy. When our loved ones begin to show the signs of age, they may need extra support to fulfill their wellness goals, and that’s when you can step in and help them continue a good quality of life as they grow older.
Not only do healthy habits prove beneficial for us as caregivers, but they are beneficial for seniors too. Living a healthy lifestyle complete with exercise, good nutrition, and knowing proper ways to manage mental health and concerns can all go a long way toward helping your senior loved one reach and maintain their health and wellness potential.
Whether you’re searching for yourself, or for ways to help an aging loved one, we’ve got some tips to help keep you and your loved ones healthy and stay on a path to wellness.
If you are caring for someone living with Alzheimer's disease, you know that as the disease progresses your loved one's ability to manage daily tasks will decline. Consider some of the following for practical tips to help him or her maintain a sense of independence and dignity as he or she becomes dependent on you and other family members or caregivers.
Some age-related memory loss is normal, like forgetting where you put your keys or getting so caught up in playing with or spending time with your loved ones you forget your coffee someplace. As we age, our minds and bodies will inevitably change as the years go by. But what if you're suddenly forgetting how to get home from being out after a couple of hours, when you've lived there for decades? That's not normal and may warrant further investigation by a doctor or specialist in memory care.
Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer's or other dementia. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are many warning signs and symptoms, although some may occur sooner or later than others. If you notice any of them affecting you or your aging loved one, don't ignore them and bring them up to a doctor next time you or your loved one has their check up.
Mountain Home Care in Asheville can help you figure out where to begin if any of the following symptoms are noticed. Our experiences caregivers know memory care, and with their patience and dedication to our clients, we can help you or your aging loved one with anything from running errands, household chores or meal preparation, as well as companionship and personal care needs.
June thru August tend to be the hottest months of the year in the United States. The southeast especially can get very hot and humid this time of year, increasing the risk of heat related illnesses in seniors. Just this past week, we had record high temps throughout the nation, making it dangerous for anyone and anything in it's path.
Seniors are the most at-risk population of heat illnesses and contributing factors related to heat illnesses. Much of the time seniors have underlying health conditions, take medications, or have cognitive decline that can cause them not to feel as thirsty or hot, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, causing them to forget to drink enough water and keep themselves cool.
Symptoms of heat related illnesses can vary from sweating, to fainting, headaches, nausea, and in the worst cases, high body temperature and heat stroke. Symptoms depend on the severity of heat illness, and in the case of seniors who may be cognitively impaired, the chances of them being able to let you know they are having these types of symptoms are lower than someone who may be healthier.
As your loved one gets older, you may be considering hiring an in-home caregiver to avoid assisted living, so your loved one can remain in an environment where they are most comfortable, surrounded by the house and familiarity of possessions they cherish while they’re safe and healthy.
Did you know that April is National Gardening Month?!
It may come as no surprise, as many areas in the U.S. are beginning to see warmer weather this time of year.
One of the best hobbies for seniors is gardening. Whether you like sprucing up your flower beds, planting seeds for a veggie patch, or you’d rather stick to indoor plants, gardening can be a great way to stay active, healthy, and maintain a sense of purpose as a senior.
If you’re worried you don’t quite have a green thumb, no problem! Below is a list of some of the hardiest plants to grow, no matter where you choose to grow them!
The warmer days have officially circled back…Spring is here! As the cold diminishes and the days get longer and warmer, you may be feeling energized by this change in the weather. This is a great opportunity for you to get outside and take advantage of the warmer days. Keep reading for ideas on how you and your loved ones can enjoy the outdoors this spring together!
No one really wants to think about what will happen after they pass away, but many caregivers are put in those situations when their loved ones begin to age. Ideally, your loved one should have already prepared a will or an end of life wishes document, but not everyone does.
If you are the sole caregiver of an aging loved one, it’s helpful to know the process of how to ensure your loved one’s wishes are met when they are no longer able to tell you themselves. That’s when you may need to think about end-of-life care, or hospice, as well as planning around those challenging times and providing respite to yourself too. Caregivers often suffer from burnout, because caring through an elderly loved one who can no longer care for themselves can be a full-time job, and it’s exhausting. Many family caregivers may still have their own jobs, lives and children to look after, so finding time to take care of yourself is important too.
Family caregivers are often also tasked to make those tough hospice, or end of life decisions for their loved ones, and it can be overwhelming. Below, we are going to offer you some tips on how to plan for end-of-life care, so that you can be as informed as possible when the time comes that you will have to make those decisions for your loved one to ensure the highest possible standard of care.
Keep reading to learn more.
Page 1 of 7
