Whenever you’ve tried to discuss getting an assistive device for him, like a walker, he gets defensive and says: “Those things are for old people!”. What should you do? Persuading an elderly parent that it’s time to use a walker isn’t easy. What follows are some creative ways to get them to agree.
A lot of Americans aged 65-and-over don’t exercise their brains like they should. Instead they spend countless hours watching TV while bogged down in stagnant routines. Studies focused on seniors have determined that when they don’t stimulate their minds with healthy activities, it can lead to loneliness and depression. And, when it’s happening to your loved one who’s still aging in place at home, it’s concerning.
Once the average person reaches age 55, their body undergoes physical changes that make muscles shrink, flexibility to decrease, and the loss of balance more possible. For all these reasons, when you’re helping a senior loved one who’s aging independently at home, exercise is important for their continued health and well-being. Keeping them active delivers numerous benefits which help counteract those caused by growing older. But if they’re not careful, exercising without taking the right precautions can also be dangerous. To keep your senior loved one happier and healthier while participating in an exercise program, use these exercise safety tips for seniors.
You have fond memories of your aging parents, including the fact they were always taking you to fun activities as a kid, like amusement parks, birthday parties and movies. Mom and dad still live independently at home, but lately you’ve noticed they’re not getting out nearly as much as they used to.
Now that you’re in your late 70s, it’s become harder just to get around. Routine daily activities are now difficult, and your doctor mentioned recently it may be time to give up the car keys. The house is a mess, you just fell (again) in the bathroom, and preparing healthy meals for one just doesn’t make sense. You decided long ago not to be a burden to your kids, but you also want to continue enjoying the comfort and freedom living at home affords you. Is it seriously time to consider some caregiving assistance?
Most people experience depression periodically, but for those aged 65-plus it’s an oftentimes overlooked problem that’s on the rise. In fact, roughly 25% of the elderly population currently suffers from depression, and half of all senior doctor visits include complaints about emotional distress. On the plus side, if you’re a caregiver for an at-home loved one who may be depressed, there are several reliable steps you can take to improve their health and well-being.
Lately you’ve noticed something isn’t quite right with mom, notably that she seems lonely and depressed. And, that’s got you down too because you feel like you’re not adequately meeting her senior needs. The truth is there are many non-physical caregiving ways to help improve a senior’s mental wellbeing. Here are a few of the better ones to try.
Financial fraud artists cheat millions of elderly Americans out of large sums of their life savings every year. Sadly, over 90% of this financial fraud is committed by their own family members. When you have senior parents that still aging in place, all these threats to their financial security can be unnerving. But on the positive side, there are several proven ways to help protect seniors from financial fraud.
We all know that having an exercise routine is good for us, but as we grow older, the obstacles to being physically active increase. The changes our bodies go through as we age can make exercise seem daunting. We may have new health concerns, worry more about injuries, or be on a tighter budget than earlier in our lives. In reality, exercise gets even more important as we get older, and there is no better time than right now to start an exercise program.
Technology has amazing potential to help our older generations. But what do millennials have to offer when it comes to teaching seniors about technology. Millennials love using, creating, and teaching others about the thing that has come to define our generation.
