The hustle and bustle of the holiday season and the new year festivities can leave us dashing through the snow in less than ideal temperatures. And along with the beauty of a perpetual winter wonderland, comes the risk of slips and falls for anyone who ventures out into inclement weather conditions. It’s important to ensure the safest conditions possible for our senior loved ones to prevent some of the common dangers that occur this time of year. Here are a few tips that Freedom Home Care came up with to help keep your family member accident-free during the winter months. Check
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Posts by Freedom Home Care
How To Make Sure Your Senior Doesn’t Feel Lonely This Holiday Season
For many people, this time of the year means family get-togethers, holiday shopping sprees, gift-giving and holiday merriment. But for many seniors, the same season that elicits feelings of peace and joy in some can bring about a sense of loneliness and isolation in others. According to the AARP’s 2010 Survey on Loneliness, more than half of seniors who had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders said they felt lonely. In fact, 43 percent of older loved ones reported feeling lonely on a regular basis. Loneliness is a subjective feeling of disconnection on a social and emotional
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Helping Seniors With Holiday Stress
Filled with lots of love, laughter and special times with family, the holidays are a joyous occasion. But with holiday shopping, dinners and travels things can sometimes get a little stressful for even the most spirited of individuals. This is especially true for older loved ones. It’s important that your senior takes steps to avert some of the unnecessary pressure that can sometimes be associated with the holidays. Here are some ways Freedom Home Care found that you can help make this season a more enjoyable one for you and your family. Plan Ahead A little bit of planning goes
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Giving to Seniors During the Season of Giving
Make it a holly jolly Christmas for a senior who may not be feeling in the holiday spirit this year. Whether it is because of lost friendships, health decline, an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, little family interaction or financial instability, there are a lot of older individuals who could use a little extra encouragement and gifts this winter. In fact, it’s not just help they could use at this one single season of the year, many seniors need assistance throughout the year. The National Council on Aging estimates that there are over 25 million Americans aged 60 years or older are economically
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The Gift of Family
Although there are all kinds of apps to help seniors communicate with family and technology to keep us connected, there is truly nothing like spending time together, especially in this season. In the time of celebration, amid the busyness the holidays bring, loneliness can largely affect seniors, especially those with Alzheimer’s, as they aren’t able to do everything they once could. But there’s an easy way to combat the feelings of solitude: family. A family isn’t just blood relatives – it’s the people who care and are willing to sacrifice time for someone else. Not just during one time of
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Ways to Volunteer With Seniors for the Holidays
Giving to others is one of the most rewarding aspects of the holiday season. And what better way to make a difference in the life of a senior than by volunteering your time. Most of us will be surrounded by family and friends this season, but for many seniors, this may not be a reality. Volunteering to offer a little time to meet the needs of a senior who lives alone, could be the very thing that makes their holiday a little bit brighter. If you’re wondering how you can make a difference in the lives of others, consider volunteering
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Important Warning Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
For more than 12 million Americans over the age 65, living with diabetes is a reality that is far too common. In some cases, older loved ones aren’t even aware that they have the disease until they’ve been diagnosed. It can manifest in different ways for different people. Some may not have symptoms at first, while others may experience them very quickly. While scientists are not certain why some people develop diabetes, evidence shows that symptoms can vary depending on the elevation of blood sugar. Part of the challenge for many seniors is being able to identify the signs of
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Is It Time to Hire An In-Home Caregiver for Your Loved One?
Like most life-changing decisions, the choice of whether to hire a caregiver for your senior is a difficult one. Many times, older loved ones are unwilling to admit to having trouble doing the things they used to do. They resist the idea of a caregiver, because for them, relying on someone else means losing their independence. This can present a problem for adult children because without the obvious signs, in some cases they have the burden of determining when their loved one needs help. In order to know whether to hire in-home care, there are a few things to look for. Many
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5 Ways to Help a Family Member Living With Alzheimer's
With nearly 5.4 million individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, there is a vast number of families who are caring for loved ones with this disease. As awareness spreads and purposeful purple badges and ribbons become more plentiful this month, christened National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, there’s no better time than now to get proactive and learn how you can help. Here are some tips to help you and your family member living with Alzheimer’s: Educate and Engage The very first step to helping someone with Alzheimer’s is understanding what is happening and will change in the future—that this disease leads to
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Traveling Tips for Seniors During the Holiday Season
If you’ve ever tried to travel by plane, train or automobile during the holidays, there’s a good chance you may have experienced, missed flights, delayed routes or last minute car trouble. There’s no busier time to travel than now. And for seniors, it can be especially challenging to reach your destination when suffering from memory impairment, health issues or limited mobility. With a little bit of pre-planning, you’ll find there are safer and more convenient ways for your older loved one to travel this holiday season. Freedom Home Care offers several tips below to help make your senior’s trip more enjoyable.
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