How to Provide In-Home Care without Bruising Your Aging Loved One’s Ego

Aging in place is what most seniors want to do. They want to continue living the way they are accustomed to and be in control of their life. An older adult's independence is very important to them. They are confident that they can manage any situation that comes about. You are content stopping by to check on them a few times a week to see if everything is going well. Your senior loved one is now unable to do all of the daily household chores, or properly take care of their personal care. Home Care Vancouver wants you to determine that if they need some assistance and what to do in case they do?

How to Communicate?

Your senior loved one refuses the idea and insists that they can do things for themselves. Talking about getting an in-home assistant is frightful for the older adult because they fear losing their independence and the freedom they have to do things their way. Older adults who have taken care of themselves are reluctant to give this up and place themselves in the hands of a caregiver. The only thought in their mind is that they will have a stranger in their home, and they will not be in charge anymore. Your senior loved one may lose their confidence, and their level of self-esteem will be lowered. Their pride will be bruised.

Home Care – A Viable Option

Providing in-home care without bruising the ego of an older adult can be accomplished with a dedicated caregiver who understands how to give quality care. The caregiver must be respectful of the older adult, and their belongings. Do not assume anything. Ask permission from the older adult before going through their belongings to find certain things. Allow the older adult to be in control by keeping abreast of what you are doing. The older adult has pride in the home, and their ability to maintain it when they were able. Consult with them before making any changes.

Key Roles of a Caregiver

Providing quality care for your senior loved one involves being compassionate, empathetic, and trustworthy. These are just a few of the qualities that the caregiver must have to help the older adult feel comfortable and maintain their pride. One of the key roles of a caregiver is helping maintain the mental and physical health of the senior loved one. In order to do this successfully, you must not neglect your own health. If this happens, and you are not able to fulfill your responsibilities, the older adult may see this as a reflection on them.

Things To Do!

Experts of Home Care Vancouver suggest you to keep your senior loved one moving. Regular exercise is vital to good mental and physical health. It helps them stay mobile, flexible, and agile. When they feel and look good, they will appreciate you, and their ego will get a big boost. Build a bond with the older adult of trust and honesty. Allow them to do the things they can. They still want to maintain their pride, and often it is the little things that will mean so much. In-home care can help boost the self-esteem of your senior loved one.

5 Qualities That Make A Good Caregiver

A caregiver is a person who cares for the elderly, or others who need assistive care. Many are family caregivers who have the responsibility of taking care of an elderly parent, or other senior loved one. As with any chosen career, the caregiver wants to do the best job possible, and be the best that they can be. Caregivers are compassionate with their responsibilities to ensure that the older adult feels safe and secure in the care of someone else. Family caregivers are often placed in this role without formal training, and they do everything that is expected of them plus more. Vancouver home care throws some light on this topic;

How To Be A Good Caregiver

A caregiver can take care of the duties of caring for their senior loved one by following their instinct especially if it is a parent, then they can let their love for them lead in their duties. All caregivers who choose to do the job want to be great at it. Home Care Vancouver shares some tips with you of a good caregiver;

1. One very important quality that a caregiver should have is patience. When caring for an older adult, you cannot try and rush them to do anything. Aging slows down the reflexes, mobility, flexibility, and agility. It may take longer for the older adult to eat a meal, bath, dress and groom themselves, walk from room to room, and small details of their normal daily routines.

2. Another important quality of a good caregiver is trustworthiness. Your senior loved one wants to be assured that they can trust the person caring for them. Caregivers often have the responsibility of managing the finances, legal issues, and other very personal aspects of the daily life of the older adult. They feel better knowing that you are truly trustworthy.

3. Having qualities like dependability and reliability go a long way in being a good caregiver. You need to be available when needed. Your senior loved one never needs to feel that they are alone. They rely on you to put their needs first and foremost. They depend on you to do what is best for them in every way. It gives them confidence and peace of mind to know that they have someone that they can depend on to manage their care.

4. Attentiveness is a quality that is essential for caregivers to have. You need to be able to not only listen to your senior loved one, but to hear what they say. Then they talk to you, take an interest. Speak in a conversational tone that they can understand. Give input, and ask questions if you need further clarification. Spend time in general conversation where each of you shares stories with the other.

5. Your Senior loved one should never feel that you are just doing a job. You can booster their self esteem by generating a feeling of compassion. When they know that you genuinely care for them, they are less likely to experience many of the challenges faced by older adults like isolation and loneliness. Being a good caregiver is simply being empathetic in your care.

Choosing a caregiver or Vancouver Home Care for a loved one is one of the most difficult things to do. The need to find someone who will care for a loved one properly and efficiently is forever in our minds. There are many things to look for when hiring a caregiver for a loved one.

Patience

Having patience is a virtue that's needed in caregivers. This means that they're equipped to take care of any changes. It also means that they will put in place the needed steps to keep your loved one on the right track. Many things can happen in daily living. Having a calm ability to reassure a loved one and keep them calm as well is important. The less of an impact the change has on a loved one, the better.

Dependable

Like any job, you need to be able to rely on a caregiver to be there when needed. Care for a loved one is something that's needed daily. The caregiver must be dependable to be there on time and every day they're scheduled. This will make things run smoothly and will be less confusing for a loved one. 

Trusting

You are relying on a caregiver to take care of one of the most important people in your life. You need to make sure you can trust them with this person. Many caregivers will also have access to loved one's financial and personal belongings. Some of these can be worth money. It is important to have a feeling of trust when they are around these things.

Attentive

A caregiver must always be aware of what is going on around them. A loved one can easily sneak from the home or get into something that they may not recall is hazardous. With loved ones who suffer from memory loss, it is hard for them to know where they are or who the person is there with them. A caregiver needs to be aware of all the things that could happen. They also need to be aware of how to avoid certain things too. They are also prepared with the steps to take at certain times.

Training

Another trait that is important in caregivers is training. A caregiver must know how to handle certain circumstances. Having training and experience will help them to make the right decision at the right time. It will also help them to give your loved one the best care they can receive. Caregivers with experience like of Home Care Vancouver will apply the things they have learned to this experience as well.

A caregiver is an important role to have. There are certain things that every caregiver should have to be successful. These traits are the things you should look for when you are seeking a caregiver. These are the people that will be with your loved one for a majority of the time. They are the ones that your loved ones will depend on. Having good qualities will go a long way.

4 Ways To Stave Off Depression in Aging Adults

Depression is one of the most common concerns among aging adults. Around 7 million seniors are diagnosed and treated for depression every year, but it can be reduced by some healthy lifestyle changes. Experts at Home Care Vancouver share a few simple ways to help your elderly loved ones combat depression.

1. Encourage Regular Activity

Engaging in physical activity regularly is one of the effective means of reducing depression. Encourage your loved one to go for short walks each day to enhance mood by releasing endorphins (the feel-good hormone) and relieving stress. You should also go to partner him or her with walks and to offer motivation.
Regular mental activity also helps in fighting depression. Draw your loved one into a purposeful and brainstorming conversation while walking, do puzzles, or look at look at old photos together to remember the happy moments of life and to provide his or her brain a workout to eliminate the feelings of depression.

2. Monitor Symptoms

While feelings of sadness are typically what everyone imagines about depression, most signs are less noticeable. Normally, the depressive behaviors include withdrawal from people, moodiness, outbursts, lack of interest in favorite activities, frustration, and sudden changes in sleep or eating patterns. If your loved one shows two or more of these signs, find out the reasons for depression and try to make them happy. In case of extreme depression, talk with a doctor for psychological screening.

3. Be Patient and Motivate

Things can get challenging when helping a loved one fight depression. He or she may refuse your help, get isolated, or show anger, but you must stay patient, calm, and collected and be supportive. You must understand that such bouts of unusual aggressive behaviors can manifest a health condition.

4. Educate Yourself on Depression

Depression is a confusing and complex disorder that often tends to negatively influence many aspects of your loved one’s life. The better you educate yourself and understand it, the more you can do to help your loved one manage the symptoms. Talk with his or her doctor for effective ways to cope with depression.
Along with these tips, spending time with your loved one is an unmatched factor that can significantly reduce negative feelings and depression. If you cannot care for your loved one due to a busy work routine, consider hiring a professional in-home caregiver. Vancouver families should opt for a trusted senior care agency in their area. A caregiver can ensure your loved one stays safe and healthy while aging in the comfort of home.

Dangerous Situations and Safety Tips For Women In Parking Lots and Garages

A crime can occur anywhere, any time and unsuspecting victims can fall prey to dangerous people. Women are main targets, not only for robbers but rapists as well. They often become victim of physical assaults. Various security guards from reputable security agencies have listed parking lots and garages as places where women need to be extra careful and vigilant and take precautionary measures.

• Hiding Places

Parking lots and garages, especially those located in basements are hotbeds for crime against women.  Stealthy predators often crouch and hide near parked cars to pounce on you and catch you off-guard. They make sure to target victims who are distracted and they leave almost no time for you to grab that pepper spray or make use of any other alert system.

• Unaware Victims/Use of Cell Phones

The best way to protect yourself and prevent becoming a victim is to be alert at all times, even of the cars moving in different lanes so that there is no surprise factor. Avoid using cell phones and earphones. Keep your keys, pepper spray/alarm in reach and the moment you sense the danger, run for your life and scream as much as you can. Use your handbag or purse to thwart the attacker in case he holds a knife or gun.

• Friendly Attackers

Even if someone is asking for an address, is a Good Samaritan or seems harmless, avoid them. Even if it may seem rude, it is better for you to be safe than sorry. A sensible person would understand your safety concerns as a woman and wouldn’t put you in a compromising situation at all.

• Rape Victims

Most of the rape victims were abducted when they were talking on their cell phones, listening to music or answered the seemingly innocent looking rapist.

• Occupied Hands

Another precautionary measure for women in the parking lots and garages is that at least one hand should be free. The easiest victims are the ones carrying a child or holding grocery/shopping bags in both hands. It is advisable to either ask someone to accompany you or you can always ask the store’s security guard to escort you.

• Safely Loading Your Car

Women loading cars, especially those with a baby or two are the most vulnerable victims for rapists and robbers both. As a mother you are responsible for more than one life, so you need to be extra alert and practice precautionary measures to keep both you and your baby safe.

The best option would be to place yourself in such a position that your are sandwiched between the car door and the cart (both of which can be used as weapons if the need arises). First load the groceries and let the baby stay in the cart till you are finished. Again, keep your pepper spray and your alarm within reach. A car trunk can also provide you protection if you would invest in a convex mirror which can alert you of someone creeping up on you stealthily.

Finally, when you are loading your baby in the car, do not stand outside. Climb into the rear seat carrying your baby and lock all the doors and there should be no open windows either. Buckle up your baby in the safety-seat and climb on to the driver seat from the rear if possible. If not, then check your surroundings thoroughly, keep your pepper spray in hand and quickly climb into the driver’s seat and immediately lock the doors.

However, it is even better to have an unarmed or armed security guard from the store escort you till you drive out of the parking lot.

Amelia Smith is a nature loving and professional writer. She loves to help others find ways to make life fun and aging easier to enjoy life, therefore, her major topic that catches her fancy is making life a better experience. She works with Home Care Vancouver to pass on her knowledge and efforts to spread happiness.

How to Initiate Better Communication With Seniors

The process of communication is complex and can be even more complicated with aging. Older adults are generally more heterogeneous than most people who are younger than they are, and they have many life experiences that can often influence the ability they have to communicate effectively. These same experiences can also hinder communication because of the aging process. This can involve sensory loss, processing information more slowly, and a reduction of memory. This often leads to the older adult's feeling of having less influence and power over their lives. Aging also changes the health of an older adult. Chronic health issues are common for seniors and may influence the ability of them to communicate effectively. Home care Vancouver throws some light on this topic.

Learning About Communication

Your senior loved one may appear to shut down when a conversation is initiated, or a question asked. It is not always because they simply refuse to talk. They may have difficulty hearing or processing the words. Their speech may have gotten slower, and they may become frustrated when they cannot speak as they once did or hear you. There is a myriad of ways to help older adult enhance their communication, and family and caregivers can also boost their ability to communicate with the senior loved one.

Things to Do;

• When communicating with your senior loved one, allow a little extra time for them to process what you are saying. This gives them the time needed to get their words situated so that they can speak to the best of their ability.
• Do not become distracted by something else when trying to communicate with your senior loved one. It is important that they have your undivided attention.
• When talking with your senior loved one, be face to face with them. This makes it much easier for them to receive your information and respond to it. One of the most important factors of communicating with your older adult is to maintain eye contact with them. Sometimes they can get the feel of what the conversation is about just by being able to see your face.
• Listening to what the older adult has to say is also important. This means actually listening to them without interruption. Let them know that you heard what was said, and give a positive comment.
• Speak slowly, loudly, and clearly when talking with the senior. The rate at which information is provided will affect how much is taken in, and committed to their memory.
• Use short sentences, simple words, and stick to one topic at a time. You want to simplify information and speak in a manner that they can understand easily.

Conclusion

Communicating with your senior loved one can also be enhanced by writing things down, using a chart or pictures that help explain the information you want to convey. Your senior loved one still wants to be included in much of what goes on around them, and communicating with them keeps them in the know. Practice good communication skills for a better relationship.

How to Check the Signs of Stroke in Your Loved One

Many seniors between the ages of 55 to 65 may experience a stroke. There are many ways seniors can prevent a stroke regardless of the type. Home Care Vancouver, BC have explained a few risk factors which are the signs of a potential stroke in seniors.