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Boredom affects many older adults, especially those who live alone. The problem can be compounded for older adults who are in wheelchairs. Being unable to get up and move around on their own can limit what they can do during their day. However, there’s no need for your aging relative to spend their days bored and lonely. Home care can not only help to take care of the older adult’s physical needs, but they can also offer fun, engaging activities that prevent boredom and bring more joy to the senior’s life. Below are just a few ideas for activities home care providers can do with wheelchair-bound seniors.   Conversation Don’t underestimate the value of your older family member having someone to simply have a conversation with. Home care providers offer a point of social interaction for seniors just by visiting them on a regular basis. They can sit with the older adult and chat about whatever the senior is interested in. Home care providers can prompt conversation by bringing up topics the older adult enjoys, discussing current events, or looking through photo albums with the senior.   Card and Board Games Seniors with a competitive streak may enjoy playing games with their home care provider. While the home care provider may not know the rules of every game the older adult likes to play, they are willing to learn the rules to nearly anything if it makes the senior happy. They can play card games, chess, checkers, or board games. Your older adult need only express an interest.   Walks Even seniors who cannot walk themselves can enjoy a “walk” around the neighborhood. Getting out of the house for a while can brighten the mood and allows seniors to get some fresh air and sunshine. A home care provider can push the older adult’s wheelchair around the area, giving them a chance to socialize with neighbors who are also out and about.   Crafts Older adults who like to make things with their hands can continue to enjoy crafts with the help of a home care provider. A home care provider can get them set up at the table or in a chair with all the supplies they need nearby. And, when supplies run out, the home care provider can take the senior to the store to purchase additional supplies.   Jigsaw Puzzles Lots of seniors like to do jigsaw puzzles. Doing puzzles is a fun way to pass the time and also an activity for seniors and home care providers to do together while they chat.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Culver City, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388

More and more older adults in the United States are living alone and have no close family. These people are often referred to as “solo seniors” or “elder orphans.” Though there’s nothing wrong with living alone and lots of seniors are perfectly happy to be on their own, it can pose a problem when elder orphans find themselves needing some help at home or get ill and are unable to manage on their own. The good news is that elder orphans aren’t truly alone. By contacting a senior care agency, older adults can hire professional senior care providers to come to their homes and assist them with just about anything they need, like the things described below. Transportation for Errands and Social Events Many seniors find themselves being unable to drive safely because of vision problems, health issues, or loss of mobility. That can mean having to stay at home and missing out on living an active lifestyle. It can also make it difficult to live at home because of an inability to do things like getting groceries or go to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions. Senior care providers can offer transportation to places in the older adult’s community. Since older adults can schedule senior care at times that are useful to them, they can make certain a senior care provider is available when they need to get to a doctor’s appointment and for weekly shopping trips. In addition, senior care providers can drive older adults to social gatherings, such as lunches with friends or an event at their place of worship.   Household Chores For older adults who have difficulty with the many jobs that need to be done around the house to continue living in a comfortable and safe environment, senior care can be just the thing they need to keep the house looking good as well as being sanitary and safe. A senior care provider can take care of weekly cleaning chores, like vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, and more. Senior care providers can also do laundry, make beds, and take out the garbage.   Healthy Meals Getting older can make cooking harder. Arthritic hands may be incapable of opening cans, lifting heavy pots, and cutting up ingredients. Senior care providers can take over cooking for elderly people to ensure they are able to continue eating balanced meals. The senior care provider can sit down with the older adult each week and plan meals they will enjoy. They can cook meals daily or prepare several ahead of time that can be frozen and reheated.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Pasadena, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388 Sources https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/ https://www.nextavenue.org/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/

Whether your older family member is male or female, a heart attack is a serious situation requiring immediate medical attention. But, did you know that a heart attack in a woman can present differently than it would in a man? Most people associate heart attacks with the dramatic symptoms seen on television and in movies where someone clutches their chest and drops to the floor. However, women are more likely to have more subtle signs of a heart attack. Knowing what to look for can help you to identify symptoms of a heart attack in an older female and get them some help quickly.   Symptoms of Heart Attack Although chest pain is the most common sign of a heart attack regardless of gender, women often experience other kinds of symptoms that have nothing to do with chest pain. Symptoms women may have include:   Abnormal Fatigue: Women can feel tired for a lot of reasons, but when the fatigue is unusual for them, it could signal a heart attack. Your aging relative might get suddenly very tired after doing a small activity, like making the bed. She might also feel very tired when she isn’t exerting herself. Her chest might feel “heavy.”   Sweating: A heart attack can cause excessive sweating with no apparent cause. They may experience it as stress sweat, a cold, clammy feeling when there isn’t any reason for them to feel stressed.   Pain in the Neck, Back, or Jaw: A heart attack can make nerves near the heart fire, which can mean having pain in places other than the chest, like the neck, back, or jaw.Shortness of Breath: A woman having a heart attack may feel short of breath even when no chest pain or discomfort is present. The shortness of breath might get worse if she lies down and better when she sits up.   Why Women Might Ignore Symptoms Experts say that women often fail to report symptoms of a heart problem or ignore heart attack signs until it’s too late. Part of the reason is that they might mistake their symptoms for flu. In addition, women tend to worry about others before themselves because they are accustomed to taking care of their families. They don’t want to concern others, so they keep how they are feeling to themselves.   An elderly care provider can watch for signs of a heart attack in your older family member, ensuring she gets help as soon as possible. Elderly care providers can also help to take care of an older adult after a heart attack. Elderly care providers can offer transportation to cardiac rehabilitation appointments and other medical appointments. In addition, an elderly care provider can cook heart-healthy meals and allow the senior to rest while the provider handles things around the house.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Studio City, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388   Sources Heart.org Goredforwomen.org Health.clevelandclinic.org

The holidays are supposed to be a cheerful time. However, all that holiday cheer can quickly dissipate if your aging relative is taken in by a scam. Unfortunately, scams are even more common around the holidays because scammers attempt to take advantage of charitable attitudes and good spirits. One of the best ways for family caregivers to help their aging relatives to avoid holiday scams is to talk to them about scams. Making seniors aware of common holiday scams, like the ones described below, can help them to respond appropriately and avoid being taken in.   False Emails and Websites A popular holiday scam is the creation of fake websites and emails that look like those of legitimate, well-known businesses. Many stores send promotional emails at the holidays advertising sales. Scammers take advantage of this by sending their own messages that mimic those of the real business but containing links that lead to fake websites where they can gather personal information, including account numbers. To avoid this kind of scam, caregivers should remind seniors to carefully inspect emails for telltale signs of a scam, such as misspellings and grammatical errors. Hovering the mouse pointer over the links in the email will reveal where the link leads, so the older adult can see if it goes to the business’s real website. Another way to spot a scam email is by looking at the address it comes from. If it doesn’t come from the business’s proprietary website, caregivers should instruct older adults to delete it.   Gift Cards That Have Been Tampered With It may be convenient for seniors to pick up gift cards for grandchildren and other family members all in one place, like a display in a grocery store. However, it may be best to avoid them. Scammers sometimes tamper with the gift cards, making them unusable by the person who bought them. Family caregivers can assist with avoiding this scam by driving the senior to the specific retailer for the gift card they wish to purchase.   Fake Charities Many people give to charities as part of their holiday tradition. Scammers use the generosity of people during the holiday season to get them to give money to fake charities. Caregivers whose aging relatives typically give to charities around the holidays should assist them with avoiding fake charities by advising them to avoid giving over the phone or through emails they receive. Instead, help them to decide on a charity they want to give to. Verify that the charity is legitimate by researching it on the website give.org . Then, help the senior to send a check to the correct address or give online by navigating to the charity’s website and verifying that the address begins with “https,” indicating it is secure.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Pasadena, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388 Sources Bbb.org Commercebank.com Aarp.org

Lots of older adults don’t have social lives that are as active as they once might have been. If that’s the case for your senior, you might want to help her to change that situation a bit. Stress Might Be Easier to Manage Life, in general, includes stress and socializing can be stressful. But overall, your senior may find that she’s better able to manage stress if she does include more socializing in her daily life. Having people that she cares about and who care about her means a lot. Interacting with other people on a daily basis can also help to pull her out of her own situation, which might help her to avoid dwelling on negatives. Her Quality of Life Can Improve Your focus as your senior’s caregiver is often on improving her quality of life and having a circle of friends and acquaintances can do that for your elderly family member. Her life overall can feel more positive, simply because she’s interacting with other people. Problems with health and in other areas of her life might weigh her down at times but having people she can relate to can help. Socializing Can Improve Mood All of this can work together to improve your senior’s overall mood, too. If she lives alone or if she doesn’t normally have a lot of interaction with other people, spending time with other people can be a lift to her morale that lasts for hours and even days afterward. Socializing with others also gives your senior a chance to be a mood booster to other people and that can have uplifting effects for her, too. Being More Social Might Slow Down Memory Loss Socializing and widening her circle of friends and acquaintances might have beneficial mental effects, too. Your elderly family member might find that reducing memory loss is just one of the happier side effects she gets from being more social. Focusing on brain health might mean that your elderly family member needs to reach out to other people a little more often. Making new friends is tough at any age. Your elderly family members might also be intimidated by the idea of going anywhere to meet new people. One way around this is to help her to socialize in her own home as much as possible. Hiring elder care providers enables her to have help with tasks that need doing and gives her a friendly person to interact with on a regular basis.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Century City, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388

It’s that time of year again when the temperatures begin to drop and the mornings and evenings require a sweater or even a coat to stay warm. It’s also the end of daylight savings time, and although this time of year means that most of us will gain an hour, there are still some people, including those receiving their senior care at home, who will be resistant to the change in routine. If your senior is showing signs that they are struggling with the time change, there are some ways that you can help them adjust at home.   Keep them busy Seniors that are sitting around the home for most of their days can feel more isolated, and it also gives them more time to think about their schedules and focus on change. Consider getting them out of the house during the daytime by signing them up for groups or classes for things that interest them, such as book club, knitting, dance class, or volunteer work.   Let the light in As it starts to get darker earlier and earlier, it can feel depressing to some people who are more sensitive to the change in time and temperature. Make sure that during the morning and afternoon hours your senior is getting plenty of sunshine, by opening up the curtains and allowing the sun’s warm rays to brighten their home and lift their mood.   Adjust their schedule In preparation for the time change, it is a good idea to begin easing them into the new time by moving their bedtime up in 15-minute increments, starting a few days prior to the time change. This will make it easier for them as sometimes people will struggle to fall asleep after the end of daylight savings time.   Get physical Exercise is important for everyone, especially seniors who are living at home and receiving their senior care there. Making sure that your senior parent or loved one gets daily physical activity is going to keep them feeling healthy and also help to tire them out which may also help with falling asleep.   Talk it out Listen to your senior if they want to talk about their feelings with regard to the time changing. Seasonal Affective Disorder, referred to as SAD, is a form of depression that affects some people a few times a year with the change of the seasons. If you suspect that your senior is showing signs of depression, please talk to their health care professional as soon as possible to rule out depression and talk about any other treatments that may be recommended to help.   Some people don’t seem to be too bothered by the time change, while others take some time to adjust. By implementing these tips and strategies, hopefully, your senior will be happy, healthy, and comfortable as they end the daylight savings time and approach the new year!   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Home Care in Burbank, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388   source: Mayoclinic.org

One benefit of receiving senior care at home is that they aren’t normally in an environment where they will come into contact with crowds of people and be exposed to the germs that can be commonly found in places like nursing homes and other health care facilities. Even though your senior parent or loved one is receiving professional home care, there are still ways that you, your parent, and their caregivers can help to prevent germs and sickness. Here are a few ways that you can limit the germs and help prevent your senior from getting sick in their home:   -Wash hands and encourage visitors to wash hands. Even if your senior doesn’t regularly leave their home, they should still practice good hygiene and handwashing techniques. Make sure that they are using warm water and soap every time they wash up, especially after they use the restroom and before they prepare or eat any meals. A caregiver can supervise them if you suspect that they need assistance with self-care like grooming and washing up. Also, encourage all household visitors to wash their hands upon arriving at the home to help prevent any outside germs from affecting your senior’s health.   -Wash produce. Raw fruits and vegetables can be a source of harmful germs and bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella, which can make people sick. In fact, almost half of all foodborne illnesses are caused by germs from fresh produce in the United States. It is important for whoever is preparing meals to thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables, even those whose skin or peel will not be eaten.   -Avoid sick people. It may seem obvious, but keeping people that are sick away from your aging senior is an important part of keeping them well. If visitors or family members request to come over, make it a point to ask if anyone is sick and recommend that they reschedule for another time if they are. Some seniors have existing health concerns or immune deficiencies making it more difficult to combat infections and illnesses so it’s important to protect their health.   -Clean house. Another way to prevent the spread of gems is to be sure there is a regular house cleaning routine in practice at your senior’s home. One of the tasks that a home care aid can often help with is light housework, so wiping down surfaces and keeping certain that the bathroom is being kept clean can go a long way in cutting down on germs around the house.   -Eat Healthily. Experts say that foods do a better job than dietary supplements for the prevention of colds and flu. If your senior eats foods that are high in vitamin C, it can help to keep their immune system strong, which protects them from infections and increases the body’s ability to fight off colds and flu. Fruits and vegetables are also high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Glendale, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388   Source: Cdc.gov Verywellfit.com

Even a little bit of dehydration can be dangerous for your aging family member. But convincing him to drink more water might be a war in the making. Determine How Much Water Is Enough Everybody needs a different amount of water to stay healthy. There are general guidelines that float around, but there is a lot of difference between someone young and active and an older adult with specific health issues. Your senior needs to talk to his doctor about how much water is right for him. The answer might cheer him up a bit.   Does She Drink Other Beverages? Are there other beverages besides pure water that your senior is willing to drink? Pure water is the best alternative, but you can work with some of the other beverage options. Carbonated beverages, even sparkling water, might not be a great choice if they’re irritating to his system. But beverages without caffeine, like herbal teas, might be something he’ll drink a little more often.   Is He Waiting to Feel Thirsty? Something else to consider is whether your elderly family member is waiting to feel thirsty before he actually drinks. The problem with that is many aging adults lose their thirst urge or it changes a bit. So, he might be dehydrated, but not thirsty. Sipping water or other beverages regularly can help with this.   How Water Is Presented Sometimes Matters The container can make a difference, believe it or not. If your senior prefers a specific glass or style of water bottle, it’s worth the effort to make that available for him to drink from. If he doesn’t have a favorite right now, see if you can figure out what makes water most palatable for him. Some people prefer water when it’s room temperature, while others prefer it to be ice cold. Different water containers can help to make that happen for him.   Use Food Alternatives to Boost Water Intake Water doesn’t have to come from beverages only. Food contains water, too, especially fruits, like melons and berries. Cucumbers and other vegetables also contain a great deal of water. Or perhaps your senior prefers soup to sip on at lunch or in the afternoon. All of these options can help with keeping him hydrated.   There’s a lot to keep up with when you’re trying to make sure your senior is as hydrated as possible. Elderly care providers can help both of you to keep everything on track and to make sure your senior is getting the water he needs.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Pasadena, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388

Caregiver burnout occurs when caregivers find themselves feeling exhausted—physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s caused by the demands of the role that can lead to caregivers failing to take care of themselves. They may ignore signs of illness, eat poorly, and fail to get enough sleep. They may even feel guilty if they do something for themselves instead of spending all their time and energy on their aging relative.  Many caregivers don’t even realize they are suffering from caregiver burnout because it comes on gradually so that it seems like their normal state of being. If you aren’t sure whether you have caregiver burnout, below are 4 signs that suggest you do.   #1: You Haven’t Spent Time with Anyone but the Care Recipient Lately When is the last time you went out for coffee with a friend or spent time with other family members? If it’s been a while, it could be because you’re withdrawing from the people you enjoy spending time with. Caregiver burnout can cause this by draining you of energy so that when you do have a moment of spare time, you simply don’t feel like doing anything. You may also worry that your negative mood will bring others down.   #2: You Feel Tired All the Time Many caregivers suffering from burnout complain of a persistent feeling of tiredness. They’re tired when they get up in the morning. Even after taking a nap or a break, they still feel tired. This can be caused by literal physical exhaustion because you aren’t getting enough sleep. It can also be caused by depression, which may occur because of burnout.   #3: You’re Not the Cheerful Person You Used to Be People with caregiver burnout are often more irritable than is normal for them. You may find yourself snapping at the older adult you’re caring for. You may also lash out at your spouse or children for minor infractions when you normally wouldn’t. Irritability is a common sign that suggests you have caregiver burnout.   #4: You’re Drinking More Than You Used To Has that one glass of wine to wind down at the end of the day turned into two, three, or more? People with caregiver burnout sometimes turn to alcohol or drugs to feel better. They may use sleeping pills improperly or could even turn to recreational drug use. Even if you’re not using drugs or alcohol, you may be turning to other things for comfort, such as eating unhealthy foods because they give you comfort.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Burbank, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388   Sources https://my.clevelandclinic.org https://www.helpguide.org https://www.webmd.com/

In 1978, then-President Jimmy Carter signed proclamation 4580, commemorating a special day “to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer.” In his proclamation, President Carter urged the nation “to plan appropriate activities so that the contributions that our grandparents have made may be appropriately recognized.” Providing elderly care to grandparents can be easy. In the spirit of this national holiday on September 8, 2019, here are some activities that you can plan to honor your grandparents and your children’s grandparents, and express to them your gratitude for their love and inspiration.   Plan a Visit Of course, there is nothing any grandparent wants more than to see their grandchildren. This year, if it is possible, plan ahead for a scheduled visit to spend the day together with grandparents. This is the perfect time for the kids to spend time with their grandparents before they return to school. Take the grandparents for a walk or simply sit together and talk. Grandparents have plenty of wisdom to share! If you are able to be together, perhaps you could share lunch or dinner together by cooking for the grandparents a favorite meal that they always cooked for you when you were growing up! It demonstrates to them that you appreciate their influence and have happy memories of your childhood with them.   Take a Family Photo If you are able to be together, take a family photo that you can later present in a pretty frame for the grandparents’ mantle or wall. It not only memorializes your happy day together, but it commemorates the lasting generational connection of your family. If you are not able to be together for a family photo, just send pictures of the grandchildren! Grandparents love sharing pictures of their grandchildren and seeing how much they have grown since the last time they saw them. Sending a photo every year gives the grandparents a wonderful way for them to see their grandchildren “growing up.” They will look forward to this every year with special anticipation.   Talk on the Phone If a trip is too far or not possible, plan a convenient time to let the grandchildren talk to the grandparents on the phone. Grandparents just want to feel connected and involved. The kids can share stories about their summer and their plans to return to school.   Send Flowers Did you know that the “Forget-Me-Not” is the official flower for National Grandparents Day? Why not express to the grandparents that you are thinking of them by sending these annual flowers? Forget-Me-Not flowers are beautiful flowers with blue petals that represent several meanings: True and undying love Remembrance during partings Fidelity and loyalty in a relationship, despite separation or other challenges Reminders of your favorite memories or time together Helping patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Have the Grandchildren Make a Gift or Write a Letter   Grandparents love to receive personally crafted gifts, letters, or drawings by their grandchildren. A refrigerator door filled with colorful drawings signed by the grandchildren brightens up the room and keeps the grandparents connected after the visit. Take advantage of this special occasion on September 8, 2019, to provide grandparents the elderly care they are most desirous of—simply connecting with their family and their grandchildren. Express to them what they mean to you and how they have positively influenced you and your family. Even if they are far away, you can always honor and appreciate them by connecting them with the family.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in West Hollywood, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388 Sources: The American Presidency Project, Jimmy Carter, Proclamation 4580—National Grandparents Day, 1978, at https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ . Flower Meaning, The Forget Me Not Flower: It’s Meaning & Symbolism, at https://www.flowermeaning.com/