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Tag: independence of seniors

Recognizing Depression in Seniors

Posted on by Erin Perry

Depression is a difficult topic to discuss with anyone, especially family members.The stigma that looms over the title of “mental illness” is a difficult problem to solve. Many warning signs of depression are often overlooked and, unfortunately, are only realized after it is too late.

Woman with her hand on another woman's shoulderDepression in older adults can easily be written off as “moodiness” or “typical behaviors”. This is not always the case. Sure, everybody has an image of that cranky man on television that lives down the block, but depression is very different.

Warning signs of depression vary greatly from person to person, but can still be identified. The sooner they are recognized for what they are, the better chance there is to arm yourself and your loved ones with the right tools to battle depression.

According to the Administration on Aging, some common warning signs are:

  • Sad, discouraged mood
  • Persistent pessimism about the present, future and the past
  • Loss of interest in work, hobbies, social life, and sex
  • Difficulty in making decisions
  • Lack of energy and feeling slowed down
  • Restlessness and irritability
  • Loss of appetite and loss of weight
  • Disturbed sleep, especially early morning waking
  • Depressive, gloomy or desolate dreams
  • Suicidal thoughts

Signed into law by president, Lyndon Johnson, the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) set out to maintain the dignity and welfare of older Americans. It also paved the way for services that organized and coordinated opportunities of older Americans and their families to recognize and treat symptoms of depression in the community.

The AOA website offers a vast amount of resources for families and caregivers that allow them to care for their loved ones with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Family sitting around elderly man smiling

If you or your loved one are feeling the effects of depression, know that there are resources that are available for you. Nobody needs to battle depression alone and the symptoms should not be disregarded as minor feelings. Call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the 24/7 Treatment Referral Line at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to find the treatment that works for you.

Visit psycom.net with your loved one to obtain a better understanding of what you may be feeling.

 

Your health and wellbeing go far beyond physical wellness. At Arise, our philosophy is “Stay Home, Stay Safe. Stay Healthy,” And that is exactly what we want for al or patients- no matter the age and no matter the symptoms.

Choose to Age Well with These 6 Healthy Living Tips

Posted on by Erin Perry

The beginning of the year is an excellent time to develop and recommit to goals that will help you better yourself. This year, focus your resolutions on healthy aging habits and aging well. With the help of your home health care assistant, see how you can lead a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle while being at your healthiest and happiest self.

Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
Regular physical exercise will help you maintain muscle mass and flexibility, and staying physically fit throughout your adult life will help decrease the chance that you will develop chronic health conditions. Get into a regular routine of exercising and staying fit, and engage in a lifelong sport that you enjoy like golf, dancing, cycling, or jogging.

Exercise Your Brain
The more you challenge your brain, the better it performs. Staying mentally active is just as important as staying physically fit. Challenge yourself to learn something new every day, learn a new language, join a discussion group, regularly participate in puzzles and mind teasers to exercise your brain.

Watch What You Put in Your Body
Many experts agree that most of your health is related to what you put into your body. Engage in a healthy diet. A good rule of thumb to follow is to eat a rainbow. More specifically, choose nutrient-rich foods like brightly colored fruits and vegetables that will add some variety to your diet. Seek out heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and limit your red meat and whole-fat dairy product intake. Choose whole grains over processed and refined grains. Choose bone-healthy calcium and Vitamin D options. To develop a more personalized diet, consult your healthcare professional.

Watch Your Stress Levels
The most common symptoms of aging—wrinkles, loss of energy, high blood pressure, heart disease, adrenal failure, loss of sex drives, poor memory—are really symptoms of stress and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Limit stress-inducing habits and eliminate smoking and limit our junk-food and drinking intake. Cut out negative and abusive relationships. Free yourself of regrets and emotional demons. And find a healthy and meaningful way to cope with stress.

Foster Relationships You Enjoy

Social isolation is a major indicator of unhappiness and depression. Engaging in healthy, active, and meaningful relationships. Remember the importance of cultivating and maintaining relationships and staying socially active as it has been linked to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Be Responsible About Screenings
Physicals and wellness exams are important as you age, but getting specific screenings for heart disease, cancer, and heart diseases, as well as vaccines for pneumonia, shingles, and the flu—which kills thousands of older adults every year—is essential to your health. A simple screening can catch a disease in its earliest stages.

For more information on healthy aging, read 50 Tips for Aging Gracefully from Ecumen.

Choosing a Home Health Agency

Posted on by Erin Perry

“Of all the lessons I’ve learned through my years of caregiving, the most important is to keep the love connection going. Just tell them that you love them again and again and again. You will never say it too much- ever.”

– Joan Lunden, journalist, author, mother of seven and long time caregiver to her mother.

You love your parents. You are so thankful for all they’ve done for you through the years. You want to help them as they age, but the caregiving task is getting to you. You’re trying to get ahead but you feel like you’re running on a treadmill. You are burnt out physically and checking out emotionally. How do you show your love to your parents and provide them the care they need?

If you’re struggling to keep up with caregiving and keeping your life balanced, it’s time to step back and look for other options. One of the best options in this transitional time of life is home health care. When making this decision, it’s critical to know what to look for in a home health agency.

10 Questions to Ask Home Health Agencies

Home Care Agency

  • How long has your agency been providing home care services?
  • What certifications and licenses does your agency have?
  • What are your financial procedures? Do you have documents explaining costs and payment plans?

Caregivers

  • How are caregivers selected? Are background checks run on all of the staff?
  • What are your requirements for caregivers? Do they go through ongoing training and development?
  • Are caregivers supervised? If so, what is done to ensure workers are given the best possible care?
  • Are caregivers available at any time (24 hours a day, seven days a week)?
  • Who is all involved in making changes to the care plan?

General Care

  • What services do you provide?
  • Do you have nurses and other health professionals evaluating the home care needs of my loved one? How are the needs assessed?
  • How is my loved one’s care plan documented? Can I see an example?
  • Who can we contact if we have questions or concerns about the care? How do you addresses problems if they arise?
  • Do you have caregivers that can meet my special language or cultural preferences?
  • What processes do you have in place to react to emergencies?

Once you’ve asked these questions, follow up with a request for references. A great home care agency should have a long list of doctors, clients, nurses, and families that are eager to share their experiences with the agency.

Arise Home Health Care has been providing quality home care services for over 15 years across central Minnesota. Learn more about the Arise story and services, or contact us for a conversation about your unique caregiving needs. We would happily answer any questions you may have about home health care and our agency.

Elder Care: The Emotion of Aging

Posted on by Erin Perry

“Aging is out of your control. How you handle it, though, is in your hands.”

– Diane von Fürstenberg, formerly Princess Diane of Fürstenberg, a Belgian-born American

Diane is widely known in the fashion world (a world that doesn’t always accept aging open-heartedly) but her words are correct; aging is out of our control. Nevertheless, we can address the emotions and the attitudes that come along with aging ourselves. Often times as we grow older, focus is shifted and directed solely on our physical aspects. What is more important is to care for an entire person — mental health and emotions included.

Mental health has an impact on the emotions, attitude, and even physical health of a person. “The presence of depressive disorders often adversely affects the course and complicates the treatment of other chronic diseases,” (Read The State of Mental Health and Aging in America1).  In a previous blog, we discussed the impact of loneliness imposed by isolation on the care of seniors, including a personal story of how companionship from a home health aide had a positive effect in another’s life.

Loneliness is not the only mental health issue that seniors face. Contrasting popular belief, anxiety is prevalent among aging seniors. The issue isn’t in the forefront of discussion because the most common issues emphasized for seniors are related to  physical health over mental health (Read Older Adults3).  According to research, depression and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. “Almost half of older adults who are diagnosed with major depression also meet the criteria for anxiety,” (Read The State of Mental Health and Aging in America1).

There are a variety of reasons that could lead to a less than cheerful attitude in seniors towards the changes associated with aging. Living in chronic pain, mounting stress from depression and anxiety, or side-effects from medications could all impact mood and attitude (Read Sources of a Senior’s Bad Mood2).

Senior Home Care

There are several resources that provide tips to help caregivers assist the seniors in their lives in the resources listed below. Senior home care can play a huge role providing the necessary social support for aging seniors. According to a study conducted by the CDC, “Social support serves major support functions, including emotional support (e.g., sharing problems or venting emotions), informational support (e.g., advice and guidance), and instrumental support (e.g., providing rides or assisting with housekeeping).” This social support is linked to a reduced risk of mental health, physical illness and mortality (Read The State of Mental Health and Aging in America1).

It is important to make care choices that will consider all areas of life, including emotional health. Arise is committed to providing a service that honors emotional health and protects the dignity, individuality and independence of seniors. If you want to learn more about how we can serve you and your family, contact Arise for more information.

Resources:

  1. “The State of Mental Health and Aging in America” <http://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/mental_health.pdf>
  2. “Sources of a Seniors Bad mood” <http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/seniors-bad-mood-154967.htm>
  3. “Older Adults” <http://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/older-adults>
  4. “Mood Changers: 5 Ways to Coax a Smile from Grumpy Elders” <http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/get-grumpy-elder-to-smile-156228.htm>
  5. “Tips for Family” <http://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/older-adults/tips-family>