Home Care Dallas enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

The health of a caregiver is very important. If caregivers are not healthy, they will be unable to perform their jobs and will not be able to provide the needed services to a senior. Many caregivers are under a lot of stress, which is another reason they should take the steps to maintain their health. Below is a list of tips that will help caregivers remain healthy.

1. Daily vitamin supplements can make a huge difference. The vitamins can be very useful for those who are tired and listless.

2. Exercise is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Even if it is just a short walk each day, exercise can be very beneficial in maintaining health.

3. Respite time is very important. Since many caregivers do experience stress and the feeling of being burnt out, respite time can provide for rest and relaxation. These are needed to remain healthy so you can continue to provide for a senior in need.

4. Flu shots can help caregivers stay healthy. Not only will this help avoid the flu, but it will also remove the chances of spreading the virus to a senior.

5. Do not make work your entire life. Being a caregiver is very demanding. It is important to have a well-balanced life. This includes having hobbies and spending quality time with family and friends.

6. Make sure to visit the doctor regularly. Routine check-ups can prevent illness and will help with over-all health maintenance.

Source: thefamilycaregiver.org

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.

Home Care Dallas enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

This Valentine’s Day as an older adult get out there and have some fun!! Whether or not you have a spouse or romantic partner to celebrate with doesn’t mean you can’t get into the season and the theme, so try these fun activities.

• Attend a community event – visit a senior’s center or community center hosting Valentine’s Day celebrations. Performances like concerts by choirs, plays and poetry readings can be fun to attend and great for the whole family

• Try doing some crafts – seniors who are already part of craft groups are likely to be beginning themed activities for Valentine’s Day, but do them at home as well. Seniors can also make cards and decorations with their family members

• Do some baking – Valentine’s Day is often associated with treats. Chocolate and goodies are usually a feature of the holiday. For seniors that can eat these items without any health repercussions, they can do some baking with family members. Otherwise healthier recipes can be tried incorporating food coloring of heart shapes to get into the spirit!

Via: Suite101

Image: daylife.com

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.

With the holidays upon us, many are gearing up to celebrate the season, but some people, including seniors and caregivers are finding themselves suffering from a case of the holiday blues. For these individuals, it can be hard to recognize and focus on the joy of the season. These tips can help them get through it:

1. Surround yourself with people – even if you don’t have family or friends around that you can spend time with, do join other social events taking place in your community

2. Volunteer – no matter what’s happening in your life, you’ll feel great when you volunteer and give back to those in need

3. Join a support group – sometimes it’s not easy to talk to family about the emotions you’re struggling with, so join a support group that allows you to share your feelings

4. Don’t put pressure on yourself – it’s okay if you don’t feel like celebrating over the holidays, don’t push yourself. Get involved with those things that make you happy, and don’t get down on yourself if you don’t feel joyful

5. Avoid alcohol – alcohol can depress your mood, so even though the wine and eggnog is flowing over the holidays, stick to the non-alcoholic stuff!

6. Know the signs of depression and seek treatment – the holiday blues are one thing, but you also need to recognize depression and get help

Via: Health in Aging

Image Source: www.sxc.hu

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.

Senior caregivers sacrifice a lot to provide care to someone they love; and while they’re so focused on bettering the lives of others, we can focus upon improving theirs this November for National Family Caregiver’s Month. Here are 10 ways to show a caregiver you appreciate them:

1. Give them a break – offering to provide respite care or hiring someone to step in can allow caregivers to relax or reconnect with friends and family

2. Remind local businesses what this month means – then encourage them to offer freebies or discounts for family caregivers in the area!

3. Lend them a hand with holiday preparations – the holidays can create added responsibility, so help a caregiver decorate for the holidays or put stamps on their cards

4. Get them laughing – go see a funny movie with them, or pick up tickets to a local comedy club. Laugher IS the best medicine!

5. Take over holiday hosting responsibilities – caregivers already have a lot on their plates; host Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday celebration so the caregiver can simply focus on enjoying the company!

6. Sign the petition – there’s a petition to establish a stamp that recognizes family caregivers; sign it in their honor!

7. Create something personal – a personalized gift, like a calendar with family photos, will help them feel like they’re appreciated, and it will help them stay organized

8. Send them a token of appreciation – a bouquet of flowers or a card might not be a big gesture, but it will make caregivers feel appreciated and special

9. Connect them with caregiving resources – free seminars and other events take place to keep caregivers better informed and help them manage stress

10. Lend your support – give them an ear to talk to, or help them find a support group

Via: The Family Caregiver

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.Myths About the Swine Flu and Vaccine

Q – My mom regularly complains that she’s tired, and I know that she’s not sleeping well. I find it’s extending beyond just the obvious, however, and affecting her overall quality of life and level of productivity. I want her to make the most of her retirement, and it seems that as long as she’s sleeping poorly that just won’t happen. What can she do to start sleeping better?

A – Insomnia and poor quality of sleep are things many seniors struggle with, but your mom can try these tips to improve her sleep and her retirement:

1. Get the right amount of sleep for your body – everyone needs a different amount of sleep, make sure you get enough to feel well rested, whether it’s 5 hours or 10 hours

2. Regulate your sleep schedule – go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday in order to ensure that your body falls into a regular routine

3. Talk to your doctor about medications – if you’re having trouble sleeping, speak to your doctors about medications that might cause insomnia  and see if there are better alternatives

4. Try relaxing activities – yoga, meditation and other relaxing activities can reduce physical and emotional stress to help ensure a better night’s sleep

5. Set the stage – make sure that your room is dark and quiet, and ensure that it’s an environment even more conducive to sleep by keeping other activities, like watching TV, out of the room!

Via: WorkingCaregiver.com – “The Secrets to a 36 Hour Day”

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.

No matter where our interests lie, we all practice some form of creation either through our jobs or through our hobbies, and the same can be said for seniors. Plus, for older adults there are benefits to their mind and bodies that can be achieved simply through artistic activities that cause them to use their imagination in order to create. Some experts in the field of art therapy for seniors say that benefits don’t exist unless the art activity is guided by an expert, but don’t let that hold you back, encourage the creative process in your elderly loved one by following these tips:

1. Choose activities suitable to the senior’s level of mobility – although skill really doesn’t play a role in the benefits of artistic expression and seniors, you don’t want to make the experience frustrating for them. Keep a senior’s physical abilities in mind when choosing an activity.

2. Make activities challenging – age doesn’t mean seniors are less capable of creation. Don’t choose activities that are too simple, like those you’d give to a child.

3. Create a quiet environment – to receive the best possible benefits from a creative activity, seniors need a quiet environment where they can simply focus on creating. An area free from distraction will help set the tone for the creative process

4. Think about long-term projects – a quick craft that can be finished in a couple of hours won’t have the same benefits as one that extends over a period of time. Choosing an activity that seniors can think about and go back to day after day will really get the creative juices flowing

5. Work together – remember, even if you’re working on an art project together, don’t take over and don’t try to lead; it’s not about the end result of the creation, it’s about the journey along the way

Sources:

1. Washington Post

2. My Optum Health

3. Associated Content

Image: well.blogs.nytimes.com

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

The boomer generation hasn’t really played by the rules, beginning with the days when they were just barely out of diapers, and now, they’re set on transforming our perceptions on aging as it’s predicted that they will live longer than generations before and change the ways we look at age:

1. Seniors today are living longer – with the standard retirement age set at 65, seniors are spending more and more time in retirement than generations past. The seniors of today and those of the future will have to reconsider how they will survive financially, since social security might expire before they do

2. Changing career structure – while this might not apply today, it’s a shift we’ll certainly see in the future as living longer in retirement will come with increased financial burden. Instead of retiring at 65, we might just see seniors living into their 100s working into their 70s, 80s and 90s out of obligation

3. 60 as the new 40 – today’s seniors are more active than ever, and at 60 show few signs of slowing down, and to think, not so long ago we looked at 40 as “old”!

4. Embracing life – today’s seniors are adventurous and have a zest for life, but society still fits these seniors into stereotypes, thinking that 70 year old grandmother’s should be in their rockers with their knitting, not going out skydiving or hiking

Via: About.com

Image:medical.philips.com

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

When your loved one suffers from a memory impairment, it can be hard to cope. But don’t let the challenges allow you to forget about caring for more than just their very basic needs; try these fun activities to make sure they have a great quality of life.

1. Reintroduce old favorites – reintroducing seniors to games and activities that they once enjoyed can activate old memories and nostalgia, and they are generally enjoyable. Try tic tac toe, checkers, cards, or large piece jigsaw puzzles.

2. Bond over magazines – looking through magazines like Reminisce or Good Old Days are a great way to share stories; or simply pick up any publication a senior enjoys  for an entertaining way to pass the time and create conversation

3. Reminisce with photos – get out the family photo albums to remind seniors of cherished memories or family members. This is also a great way to start sharing stories and memories of great times with loved ones

4. Get online – for a senior who loves to learn, get online and browse travel destinations, look up information about activities or facts that interest the senior, or simply use it to look at pictures. If your senior is feeling really adventurous, you can even get them signed up on Facebook or Twitter

5. Share a treat – a great activity can be as simple as going to a local bakery or ice cream shop to bond over a sweet treat. Or, it can be made at home and enjoyed there

6. Get outside – don’t underestimate the power of fresh air and sunshine for a senior, get out there!

Via: Suite101

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Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

With flu season approaching, many people have concerned about the Swine Flu spreading even further, and seniors are particularly at risk. Fortunately, a swine flu vaccine has become available to help prevent a growth of the pandemic. Here is some important information about the H1N1 vaccine.

• Availability – the H1N1 vaccine should be available in fall of 2009 in order to combat formal flu season. Specific dates have not yet been released as they are based on manufacturing

• Production – a Swine Flu vaccine is currently in production, and before being offered to the public, will be involved in clinical trials

• Combined vaccines – the Swine Flu vaccine will be separate from the seasonal flu vaccine. It can be administered at the same time, although since the H1N1 vaccine is likely to be available later in the season, [location] seniors are encouraged to get the seasonal flu vaccine first

• Age for priority vaccinations – studies have shown that H1N1 is more likely to affect people aged 25 to 64, or those with compromised immune systems due to health issues. The vaccine will be available to these people initially, and older adults over 65 can receive the vaccine after

• Locations – the Swine Flu vaccine will be available in locations that aren’t just your doctor’s office. Vaccination programs will take place in offices, schools, pharmacies, and other private settings

• The 1976 vaccine – the Swine Flu pandemic of 1976 also had a vaccine developed to fight the spread of illness, however, even those vaccinated then should receive the new H1N1 vaccine as the disease is not likely the same

Via: Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Image Source: swine-flu-tips.com

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

When seniors begin to struggle with independent living in their Dallas homes, families may think that the easiest answer is to move in with their senior parent or relative, or have them leave their home to live with them. While that is a situation that can be beneficial to all of the family members involved; it’s not a decision that should be gone into lightly, there’s a lot to think about, and many potential repercussions and evaluate if the benefits outweigh the potential risks that can be posed to the family relationship.

• Adult caregivers may find that once an elderly parent or relative is living with them, they have little to no time for themselves, between caring for their own children, managing a career, and providing care for a senior who is there 24/7, it can be easy for a caregiver to become overwhelmed. When a caregiver lives with their care recipient, there’s no option to leave and go home to get some space

• 75% of seniors and caregivers who live with or too close to their loved ones rate their stress level at 5 on a scale of 1-5

• Seniors and the family they live with may be forced to give up some aspects of their lifestyle

• Living arrangements and family structure and roles can change

Via: Home Instead Senior Care

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.