Is Your Loved One Social?

You hear over and over how important it is to be physically active. But do you hear that it is also important to be socially active? People who are socially active have better mental health as well as cognitive function. They feel like they belong and are more connected to the world around them. Those who do not spend time others have a higher risk of developing depression and possibly dementia.

Since July is Social Wellness Month, we want to share 4 tips to help your senior loved one stay more socially active:

• Volunteer. Give your loved one the opportunity to give back to the community through volunteer work. Maybe they can help stuff envelopes for a mailing for a non-profit, help in a soup kitchen or even socialize with cats or dogs at a local animal shelter. Studies show that volunteering can lead to better health and mental cognition. It also gives people a sense of purpose as they do good for their community.
• Find or Continue a Hobby. Does your loved one like to paint, draw, play bridge, take pictures, fish or golf? If so, help them expand that hobby. There may be classes or events at a local park district or YMCA where they can get involved. There they can make friends and interact with other people who have the same passion.
• Catch Up with Old Friends. Does your loved one only talk to the same family members or a couple close friends? Why not reach out to other family members or friends they haven’t seen in a while and let them reconnect. If they can build a bigger social network, they won’t feel isolated.
• Interact with a Pet. Did your loved one have a cat or dog growing up or as a younger adult? If they can care for it, why not get them a pet that would be easy to take care of. (Cats are pretty self-sufficient.) If they don’t get a pet of their own, see ‘Volunteer’ above. If they are able, maybe they could volunteer at a local animal shelter a couple times a month. Psychology Today reviewed a number of published studies and found that pets do make excellent therapists. In fact, when looking at studies involving Alzheimer’s, development disabilities and even schizophrenia, the patients who interacted with therapy animals saw beneficial results.

At Assisting Hands Home Care, our caregivers can provide your loved one with safe transportation to activities so they can continue to have outside social interaction, as well as to and from doctor and other appointments, grocery shopping or other errands. Whether you need someone to be with them during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at home care can accommodate your needs. You will sleep better knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

5 Things to do with Your Parents on Parents’ Day

Since a Congressional Resolution was passed in 1994, the fourth Sunday of July has been designated as Parents’ Day. As we come upon a holiday that revolves around family, why not take the time to get together with your parents to see what they are doing and how they are doing.

While you are with them, here are 5 things you can do to help them stay mentally sharp and safe:

Look at Old Photos: If you are of a certain age, you probably still have boxes of old prints in the basement or in albums somewhere. Don’t worry if they are not in order; share them with your parents anyway. See if they remember who is in the pictures, where they were taken and the occasion. Let them go down memory lane and tell stories from these occasions. This may enlighten you more than them! Take notes or record them so you can pass this information down to your family too.

Play a Game: What is your parents’ favorite game(s)? Checkers? Rummy? Find the game and play it with them. This will help to keep their memory sharp. Even a simple game of Go Fish will help fuel the brain.

Make Them a Meal: Do they like scrambled eggs and bacon? Maybe chicken is more to their liking. Whatever they enjoy having, why not make them a homemade meal instead of going out? Restaurants meals (and packaged meals in the grocery stores) tend to have too much sodium and added sugar anyway. Bring enough so you can package leftovers for them to have the next day. This way you know they are eating well a couple days that week.

Assess Their Surroundings: Is there any furniture in the way of their normal path throughout the house? Are there throw rugs on the floor? Make sure your parents have a clear path through their house and there are no trip hazards. Does it look like their clothes and other linens have been washed recently? If not, do a load or two of laundry for them while you are there. They did your laundry as you were growing up; now it’s your turn!

Assess Them: How do your parents look? Have they lost or gained unexplained weight since you saw them last? Do they look groomed (showered, hair combed, teeth brushed)? If not, they could be having issues with their memories. Ask them questions to fully understand what is going on.

At Assisting Hands Home Care we will make sure that your parents are happy and well cared for. We provide them with safe transportation to and from doctors and other appointments, grocery shopping or other errands and make sure they are getting the appropriate nutrition and exercise that is appropriate for them. Whether you need someone to be with them during the day, in the evening or overnight, we can accommodate your needs. You will sleep better knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100.

3 Ways to Protect your Loved One from Skin Damage

It’s summertime and you know what that means? Time outside enjoying the warm weather; shorts and flip-flops; bar-b-ques and cook outs! You know what it also means? Skin Damage!

We are in the time of the year when UV exposure is the strongest in the United States, which means you are more easily at risk for skin damage. Skin damage may lead to premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, age spots and possibly skin cancer.

You can damage your skin if you are out in the sun at any time of the year, so keep these 3 tips in mind in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from skin damage all year long:

•  Stay in the Shade. If you can find a shady spot for yourself of your loved ones, do it! This is most important during the middle of the day when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest. Keep in mind that UV rays reach the ground even on cloudy days, so just because the sun isn’t shining brightly doesn’t mean you let your guard down.
• Wear Protective Clothing. No one wants to be bundled up in the middle of summer when it is hot out, but if you or your loved ones will be outside, think about a light-weight garment to protect your skin from the sun, a hat and/or a pair of sunglasses. These items will all help to block the UV rays from your skin. Again, keep in mind that if you can see through the piece of clothing, so can the sun, so this will only provide partial protection.
• Use Sun Screen. Whether you are outside for an hour or all day, you should use sun screen. Since all sun screens are not created equal, make sure you buy one that blocks UVA and UVB rays, or broad spectrum sun screen. Even when sun screen is used, if you are in the sun you are still exposed to the sun’s rays, so you are not completely protected. Apply sun screen often and make sure to reapply after being in the water or sweating.

Don’t let the appeal of a summer tan cause irreparable damage to your skin that you will regret later. Take the appropriate steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful UV rays.

At Assisting Hands Home Care we will make sure that your loved one is properly protected if he or she is outside. We provide them with safe transportation to and from doctors and other appointments, grocery shopping or other errands and make sure they are getting the appropriate nutrition and exercise that is appropriate for them. Whether you need someone to be with them during the day, in the evening or overnight, we can accommodate your needs. You will sleep better knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100.