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Has your loved one been socially isolated this winter? It’s time to get out.

March 7, 2018 By Take My Hand At-Home Care

Spring is almost here.

Given the wet, cold winters we have in the Pacific Northwest, it’s common for the elderly — for all people, really — to hibernate through the winter, staying inside where it’s warm and dry.

For the elderly, staying at home through the colder months can mean being isolated from friends and family. Social isolation is unhealthy; in fact, it’s a risk factor for depression among older adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

To be honest, sitting at home alone for too long can lead to negative consequences for both mind and body. Maybe your loved ones are stewing over the idea that “my kids never come see me.” Perhaps they overthink about aches and pains. The New York Times even recently reported that loneliness may be a preclinical sign for Alzheimer’s disease. And not only that, isolation also may be linked to decreasing ability to care for oneself. Consider this statement:

“Among older people who reported they felt left out, isolated or lacked companionship, the ability to perform daily activities like bathing, grooming and preparing meals declined and deaths increased over a six-year study period relative to people who reported none of these feelings.”

Who needs that? Instead, let’s let the spring sun melt away your loved one’s winter doldrums. Encourage them to get up, get out and have some fun this spring.

With the warming weather, there’s never been a better time to encourage your elderly loved ones to get out of the house and out into the world. Take them for a walk through Whatcom County’s gorgeous scenery — maybe to Hovander Homestead Park or along the Bay to Baker trail into downtown Everson. Help them run errands to Haggen or Hoagland’s. Take them to see a movie at the Pickford or to reminisce about rotary telephones at SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention. Whatcom County is packed with fun things to see and do!

If you need any assistance getting your loved one out and about — or even encouraging them to leave the house — please feel free to give Take My Hand At Home Care a call. Our licensed and qualified nurses are experts in caring for the elderly throughout Whatcom County, and we’d be happy to help.

 

Filed Under: Elder loneliness, Local senior citizen events, Long-term care, Resources for caregivers, Resources for senior citizens Tagged With: certified nursing assistants, companion care for elderly, elder loneliness, exercise for senior citizens, long-term care help at home, nurse for hire, respite for family caregivers, visiting nurses

Four ways to say ‘I love you’ to the elderly

February 7, 2018 By Take My Hand At-Home Care

Search Pinterest for quotes about love, and you’re likely to come across some version of the following statement: “There are a million ways of saying ‘I love you’: ‘Watch your step.’ ‘Get some rest.’ ‘Put your seatbelt on.’”

It’s true; there are myriad ways of showing your loved ones exactly how much you care. With that in mind, we thought it would be nice — it is the month of love, after all — to offer a few ways of saying “I love you” to the elderly in your life.

Essentially, they all come down to one thing: time. When it comes to gifts, physical presents typically aren’t ideal — they often just clutter up the home. Instead of things, here are some time-based gifts you can share with the elderly in your life:

Cook and serve a meal. More even than the food, which itself can make a large impact, the benefit to cooking and serving a meal to an elderly loved one is that you simply took the time to do it. Loved ones will enjoy spending time with you as they try out a new dish or enjoy an old favorite. After the meal, be sure to clean up and wash the dishes!

Look through old photos together and chat about memories. Once you’ve done this, you’ll probably be asking yourself why you haven’t done it more often.

These reminisce-and-gab sessions can be a treasure, and they’ll probably also lead to stories you’ve never heard before about family history.

Take them for a walk and/or help them run errands. Let’s face it: Moving around gets harder the older we get. Without someone to help, we can lose trust in our ability to walk without falling. Helping loved ones enjoy the great outdoors — and maybe accomplish a few tasks while they’re at it, like picking up a prescription or buying groceries — can really make their week. Give it a chance, and it’ll probably make yours, too!

Set up a complimentary in-home assessment with a licensed caregiver. A no-obligation, completely free consultation with an at-home care provider like Take My Hand At Home Care can help loved ones discover areas to make life more enjoyable. A typical assessment will cover a number of topics, including:

  • Home safety: Is the home safe for your loved one to age in place?
  • Daily routines: What does your loved one like to do on a daily basis, and what are his or her personal preferences? What are your loved one’s personal background, interests, family and hobbies?
  • Medical needs: What medications are being taken, and what other medical information is important? Does your loved one need assistance with doctor visits?
  • Service cost: What is the cost of at-home care services, and what insurance will cover it?

For more information, contact the licensed caregivers at Take My Hand At Home Care in Lynden.

 

Filed Under: Aging in place, Caregiving, Elder loneliness, Resources for caregivers Tagged With: Aging-In-Place, at-home care, Bellingham caregiver, caregiver for older adults, certified nursing assistants, companion care for elderly, elder loneliness, exercise for senior citizens, home health for seniors, living safely at home, Lynden Caregivers, nurse for hire, nutrition services for seniors, respite for family caregivers, visiting nurses, Whatcom County Eldercare

Whatcom County resources for older adults and their caregivers

December 6, 2017 By Take My Hand At-Home Care

Occasionally, we sit back and think about how fortunate we are to have such amazing resources available in Whatcom County for senior care. Truly, there are wonderful support systems in place in Bellingham and throughout the area.

With the new year approaching, many are thinking about how to make positive changes in life (and in the lives of those in their care). These resources can help. Here are a few we often rely on at Take My Hand At-Home Care:

Northwest Regional Council: The NWRC is the hub of the wheel when it comes to resources for senior citizens in Whatcom County. Begun in 1971 as a collaboration among Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom County elected officials, NWRC focuses on providing services for adults with disabilities and the elderly. As Northwest Washington’s Area Agency on Aging, it provides a host of services for everyone needing long-term care. With information both for the aging and for their family caregivers, NWRC is a lifeline for those who need it. Just give them a call to see what options might be available for your unique family situation.

Whatcom Council on Aging: The WCOA, an independent nonprofit serving local senior citizens since 1964, offers a number of services for area adults, including the Meals on Wheels and More program, Bellingham Senior Activity Center and Bellingham at Home, a virtual community for area seniors.

Elder Service Providers: Speaking of support for caregivers, Elder Service Providers does wonders in Whatcom County for those who care for others including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, caregiver agencies and more. Their mission is to build up the community of caregivers in Whatcom County, and they do it in a number of ways, including monthly luncheons and an annual caregiver conference.

Alzheimer Society of Washington: Those caring for individuals with dementia or other memory issues can benefit greatly from the Alzheimer Society of Washington, which is based in Bellingham. In addition to a number of support groups for caregivers and support groups for individuals with memory loss, the Alzheimer Society provides Staying Connected classes to provide ongoing support for those with early memory loss and dementia-related diseases.

These are a handful of Whatcom County organizations that provide wonderful support both for caregivers and for their loved ones. Of course, you may always contact Take My Hand At-Home Care for more information; we can help guide you through the process of caring for an elderly loved one at home. We are here to help!

 

Filed Under: Aging in place, Caregiving, Elder loneliness, Local senior citizen events, Resources for caregivers, Resources for senior citizens Tagged With: Aging-In-Place, assisted living near Bellingham, at-home care, Bellingham caregiver, caregiver for older adults, companion care for elderly, elder loneliness, help for caregivers, home health for seniors, living safely at home, long-term care help at home, Lynden Caregivers, resources for caregivers, resources for seniors, respite for family caregivers, temporary respite for caregivers, Whatcom County Eldercare

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Give dad what he really needs this Father’s Day

Ties are great. Wallets are swell. But your dad probably doesn’t need or want those things anymore. If you want to show your love for dad this Father’s Day with something he truly needs, try these three great options: Time. The circumstances of life can make time a rare luxury as your father ages. Older dads typically have children who are in their busiest years — kids in the home, tons of … [Read More...]

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Take My Hand At-Home Care is fully licensed, bonded and insured and has been locally owned and operated since 2012. It is currently owned by Matt … Read More...

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Recent Posts

  • Give dad what he really needs this Father’s Day
  • Simple bathroom safety updates for older adults
  • 5 podcasts for senior wellness 
  • How to reduce stress, avoid chronic disease
  • How to help older loved ones sleep better

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