Tag: Mental Health

Just one of the many issues that seniors can face as they grow older is the impact of both depression and isolation on their mental and physical health. Ignoring these feelings when they crop up doesn’t help your senior to get what she needs. In fact, not resolving these issues can cause much bigger problems down the line. Home care assistance can help you and your senior to find the tools that she needs in her unique situation.

What Happens When Seniors Experience Depression and Isolation?

Depression is a common condition among seniors and can be caused by a variety of factors, such as a loss of independence, chronic illness, and the loss of loved ones. Depression can also be caused by chemical changes in the brain and body, so talking to your senior’s doctor is a good idea. Symptoms of depression in seniors can include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed. Isolation can lead to depression, which is a big reason to try to find solutions that help your elderly family member to avoid isolation. Some of the causes of isolation include mobility problems, health issues, and lack of support systems.

Hands-on Help When Your Senior Needs It

If your elderly family member is experiencing a lot of difficulty with daily tasks, mobility, or other concerns, home care assistance is an excellent solution. Caregivers are able to take on household tasks, personal care tasks, and offer help in other ways, like with transportation. All of these solutions offer tangible assistance that your elderly family member may find incredibly useful.

Socialization and Reaching Out to Other People

When your elderly family member spends time with senior home care providers, they’re offering her opportunities to socialize and to engage with other people. They can also help your senior to find it easier to socialize with other people, by helping with transportation or making it easier for your senior to have visitors over. When your senior feels more comfortable letting people into her spaces, she’s less likely to experience isolation or to have those feelings worsen into depression.

Companionship and Emotional Support

Home care assistance can also encourage your elderly family member to engage in activities she enjoys, even if she needs a little help. Spending time with someone while she gardens, reads, or watches favorite movies offers your senior emotional support and companionship that might have been difficult to incorporate into her daily life otherwise. In-home care professionals really get to know your senior, including her preferences and habits, which means that they can offer her the support that she truly needs.

Even though depression and isolation are common for seniors, that doesn’t mean that your senior must simply suffer through these issues. Home care assistance can give your senior the solutions that she needs in order to resolve the underlying problems, thereby reducing the risk of your senior having to deal with those consequences at all. If your elderly family member is experiencing depression, make sure to talk with her doctor to rule out medical causes.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Coon Rapids, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.

How can you tell if your elderly family member might be battling anxiety? Sometimes your senior may not even realize that she’s anxious a lot more than she used to be. If you’re not sure what all is going on with her daily life, senior home care can help you to get a clearer picture of what your aging adult is experiencing daily.

Being More Irritable than Usual

There are a lot of different reasons that your elderly family member might be more irritable than usual, and they can range from health issues to so much more. What matters is that you talk to your senior when you notice that she’s a little more irritable than you’re used to seeing her be. If you can get to the cause, whether it’s a specific situation or something else, that can help you to alleviate what’s making her feel out of sorts. When the cause is anxiety, you want to get to the bottom of what’s contributing to that feeling of being anxious.

Worrying More about Daily Things

Lots of people worry over aspects of daily life. In fact, that’s common for people of all ages. If your elderly family member is showing signs that she’s starting to obsess more about daily concerns, that can be a sign that she’s experiencing a lot more anxiety than usual. Some of the daily worries might be little ones, like whether the doors are locked or if she turned the stove off. Others might be bigger, like worrying that there will be a natural disaster and what might happen if it occurs. If this is new for your elderly family member, you may want to talk with her about what caused these worries to grow.

Behavioral Changes that Are Out of Character

Sometimes anxiety makes your elderly family member change habits or behaviors, occasionally without her realizing it. She might start to have trouble staying asleep at night, for instance. This can cause her to be awake for big chunks of the overnight hours when most people are asleep. Or your elderly family member might start having trouble controlling her appetite, eating too much or too little. These changes can seem small or temporary, but if they’re driven by anxiety, those new habits can be detrimental to your elderly family member’s overall well-being.

Withdrawing and Staying at Home a Lot More than Usual

Your elderly family member’s anxiety may also cause her to withdraw socially. She may find that she rarely wants to leave her home at all and if something does require her to leave, she might experience anxiety that she recognizes. In order to keep those anxious feelings under wraps, she could be withdrawing even more to avoid dealing with the underlying problem.

It’s important that your elderly family member is able to have a safe and happy life on her own terms, and that means getting to the bottom of what’s causing her anxiety. Senior home care professionals can do a lot to help your senior to be safer at home, which can be a big underlying trigger for anxious feelings. Home care can help with anxiety in other ways, too, especially if your elderly family member is finding it more challenging to keep up with daily tasks.

Source
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/what-to-know-about-anxiety-in-older-adults

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Brooklyn Park, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.

According to mental health professionals, a record number of seniors are experiencing loneliness, depression, and anxiety. When seniors don’t get the social interaction that all people need in order to stay happy and healthy, their mental health can really suffer. But it’s not realistic to expect that their children are going to be able to always provide the social connections that seniors need. Having a social safety net of people who can step in and be there for your senior loved one when you can’t is essential to their mental health. A few good ways to do that are:

Bring in Elder Care

A great option for the kind of regular social interaction that seniors need is elder care. When your senior loved one has elder care a provider will come to the house on a set schedule to help your senior parent around the house, talk with them, share meals with them, and more. That’s exactly the kind of routine social interaction that seniors need. And if you can’t visit your senior parent more than once or twice a week because you work or have children or have other responsibilities you can supplement your visits with elder care.

Reach Out To Neighbors

Neighbors can be another good piece of the social safety net for seniors. If your senior loved one is aging in place in the family home there’s a good chance you know some of the neighbors already. Check in with them to see if your senior parent can call them for a chat or if they need something. Offer to be the same point of contact for them if they need it. Then create a list with all the phone numbers for the numbers in large print and put it next to the phone so that your senior loved one or an elder care provider can reach out to the neighbors if they need to.

Enlist Other Family Members

Your siblings or cousins may live too far way to help with the daily care of your senior parent but that doesn’t mean that they can’t provide some social support from wherever they are. Set up a phone schedule so that your senior loved one is getting regular or even daily calls from a different member of the family each time. Checking in with your senior loved one on a regular basis will make them feel cared for.

Encourage Your Senior Parent To Get Professional Help

Getting senior parents to open up to a professional is tough because many of them were taught growing up that they shouldn’t talk to therapists or counselors. But professional psychiatrists and counselors can really help seniors as they struggle to find purpose when they retire and start to get older. Talk to your senior parent and strongly encourage them to get some professional help to help manage any symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Source
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/older-adults-and-mental-health

If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in St. Louis Park, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.

Some seniors may face difficulties due to the natural process of aging. Although all people anticipate the transition from middle age to old age, some may struggle to adapt to becoming elderly. When you start taking care of your elderly loved one you may be unsure of how to help them. The truth is they may need more professional help than you can give.

Seniors will likely face various health issues, financial burdens, and stress that you are unaware of. Some elderly adults may want to age in place but are unable to thrive on their own like how they used to. This is when it can be beneficial to hire senior home care to help a senior take care of their homes and daily routines.

On top of hiring senior home care, you may need to encourage your elderly parents to try therapy. They may ask you what it will change or how beneficial could it actually be? It’s time for them to start talking to someone about their fears and learning how to embrace their senior years. This is truly a chance to live life to the fullest.

How Therapy Can Help Seniors

Older persons who may have trouble with the changes of aging might benefit from therapy in managing their emotions, discovering new sources of pleasure and purpose, and finding new sources of support. It may help individuals confront their fears of death, if they have such worries, and cope with the loss of loved ones.

Family or individual therapy may also be beneficial for family caregivers, as it can help them cope with their emotions and communication challenges — particularly beneficial if an elderly person has dementia. Dementia is strictly a medical diagnosis as opposed to a mental one, however cognitive behavior therapy may be able to alleviate certain dementia-related symptoms.

In greater numbers than in the past, seniors are seeking treatment in therapy for mental health problems unrelated to aging. Depression or anxiety are among the possible mental health disorders that can benefit from therapy. As understanding rises, it seems that views about mental health problems have started to shift. This is great news because the more in demand it becomes the more types of therapies that will emerge.

A senior can choose from one-on-one therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and even things like music therapy to help them sort through different emotions. Senior home care can offer support and transportation to and from therapy sessions.

Many older people were raised during an era in which mental illness was stigmatized and all mental challenges suffered by seniors were attributed to age or dementia. Now, however, therapy is seen by many people as a type of treatment. Research indicates that seniors are often more committed to therapy, aware that their time’s limited, and achieving improvements more rapidly than younger individuals. It’s time to get them the help they need through their final phase of life.

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Minnetonka, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.

The winter blues are real. Billions of people around the world experience this issue. Sometimes, it starts in the fall and goes into the spring. For other people, it only happens during the winter months. Either way, it can range from moderate to severe. If your elderly loved one is experiencing the winter blues, there are some things you and senior home care providers can do to help them overcome or work through it.

Admitting They Need Help

One of the first steps in managing and/or overcoming the winter blues is admitting that they need help. The truth is that many people find it difficult to admit they are struggling with any mental health issues. Oftentimes, senior citizens find it even more difficult, as they are used to doing things on their own. However, if you or a senior home care provider recognizes your elderly loved one is becoming depressed around the winter, it would be a good idea to talk to them about it. If you can get them to admit they need help, it would be easier to assist them in working through this issue. If they won’t admit to being depressed or feeling down, there are still other things you and the home care providers can do to help your elderly loved one.

Increasing Physical Activity

One of the ways that you and senior care providers can help your elderly loved one to work through or overcome the winter blues is by having them increase their physical activity. There are numerous ways they can do this including:

  • Going on walks with you or a senior home care provider (you can even do this in the local stores if they weather is too bad)
  • Have them get up and bake cookies with you
  • Dance around the living room with them
  • Have them workout to YouTube videos or other workout programs
  • Get them a fitness tracking watch

These are just some ideas that can help your elderly loved one to be more active. Studies show that being active can help to relieve depression. Encourage your elderly loved one to give these things a try to see if it helps them to feel better.

Doing Mental Exercises

There are also mental exercises that can help your elderly loved one to overcome the winter blues. Some of these include:

  • Putting together a puzzle
  • Doing brain training exercises online
  • Getting activity books such as word searches
  • Putting together a scrapbook with you or their elder care providers

These are some of the best mental exercises that a person can do when they are dealing with the winter blues.

Conclusion

Is your elderly loved one dealing with the winter blues? If so, the sooner you and their senior home care providers can help them, the sooner they can start bringing more happiness and joy into their life.

Source
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2013/01/beat-winter-blues

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Woodbury, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.

Many people see the elderly as having nothing but time on their hands, so they don’t have to worry about them having a hobby to keep them busy. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. With the right in-home care activities, older adults have the opportunity to maintain healthy cognitive function and prevent the onset of cognitive impairment.

What is Cognitive Impairment?

According to NIH, cognitive impairment is a gradual decline in mental function that can include memory loss, language difficulty, and a decline in reasoning and judgment. It’s common among older adults, but it’s not inevitable. Most people who experience it do so as a result of several conditions, including age, stroke, and other diseases.

Maintaining a Healthy Cognitive Function

For many seniors, cognitive impairment is inevitable. However, with the right activities, they can enjoy their golden years without losing their mental faculties.

It is important to remember that the brain is a muscle that requires exercise in order to stay healthy. By engaging in various activities, older adults can prevent the onset of cognitive impairment and avoid living in a state of depression.

What Kind of Activities Should Seniors Participate in?

Maintaining a healthy cognitive function is important for those who are looking to maintain their independence. Maintaining cognitive ability can result in a better quality of life and can also help to prevent the onset of chronic illnesses. By participating in a wide variety of activities, seniors can stave off cognitive impairment and maintain independence.

1. Exercising the Brain

Exercise is one of the most important things that seniors can do to maintain a healthy cognitive function. With the right exercise, seniors can prevent the onset of cognitive impairment and stave off depression.

Neurodegeneration is the loss of brain cells and the death of neurons due to various factors. As a result, the brain is incapable of producing new cells and is unable to recover from the effects of stress and aging.

Physical activity helps to prevent neurodegeneration by increasing blood flow, which is essential to the brain and to the body. In addition, physical activity increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is essential to the health of brain cells.

2. Hobbies

One of the best ways to ensure that people of all ages stay active is to encourage them to engage in various hobbies. Hobbies can be beneficial in many ways, including helping to fight depression and keep people active.

By encouraging seniors to engage in various hobbies, they can maintain their independence and prevent the onset of cognitive impairment.

3. Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet is just as important for your senior’s body as it is for their brain. Eating a lot of processed food can impair their cognitive functions. There are some studies that show that drinking small amounts of alcohol can actually protect the brain from the effects of aging. But drinking too much alcohol can actually lead to cognitive impairment.

Conclusion

In-home care will keep your seniors active and healthy while keeping their independence. We offer the best available care to your seniors! Give us a call today!

Sources

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/cognitive-health-and-older-adults

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4587595/

https://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/cognitive_impairment/cogimp_poilicy_final.pdf

If you or an aging loved one is considering in-home care in Plymouth, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.

Sometimes, people can tell if their loved one or friend has mental health issues. However, other times it isn’t as noticeable. If you are caring for your elderly parent or elderly loved one, be sure you watch out for signs of a mental health disorder. People shouldn’t have to struggle with mental health issues on their own.

It can be tough for someone to admit they are struggling with these issues. With this being said, you or elderly care providers should talk to your elderly loved one if you notice the signs mentioned below.

Sadness or Hopelessness

Have you or an elderly care provider noticed that your elderly loved one is feeling sad or hopeless? Occasional sadness or hopelessness is normal. However, if this is something that your elderly loved one has been experiencing for many weeks, it could mean they are struggling with a mental health disorder.

Acting Out of Character

Have you or an elderly care provider noticed that your loved one is acting out of character? For example, are they yelling at their family members more than usual? Are they staying up late at night or spending more money than they usually do? If your elderly loved one is doing things that are out of character, they may be struggling with a mental health disorder. They may need your help.

Issues with Focus and Concentration

Have you or an elderly care provider recently noticed that your elderly loved one struggles with focus and concentration? Maybe you were talking to your elderly loved one and they couldn’t make eye contact. Mayne when your elderly loved one was on the phone with their elderly care provider, they forgot what they were saying. Issues with focus and concentration happen often with those who have a mental health disorder.

Not Coping Well with Stressors

Has your elderly loved one recently had issues coping with stressors? Maybe they used to have great coping skills, but in the past few weeks or months, they aren’t doing so great. If this is happening, you or an elderly care provider might notice your loved one gets stressed or anxious when life throws a curve ball their way.

Conclusion

These are some signs that your elderly loved one may have a mental health disorder. If you or an elderly care provider recognize these things in your loved one, be sure to talk with them. Let your elderly loved one know you are going to be there to support them. Ask your elderly loved one if you can get them an appointment, so they can get the help they need.

Sources
https://medlineplus.gov/olderadultmentalhealth.html

If you or an aging loved one is considering elderly care in St. Paul, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.