A little bit of sun exposure is healthy for vitamin D production, so whenever possible, take advantage of early morning windows and go for walks, join a water aerobics class, or sit on the patio when the sun is shining and the temperatures are between 65 and 75 degrees. Once temps start creeping up into the 80s, it’s best to take things back inside. 

7 Indoor Ideas For Seniors To Have Fun & Stay in Shape This Summer

There are a few different reasons why adults 65+ are more susceptible to heat than they were when they were younger:

• Certain chronic health conditions.
• Medication side effects.
• Age affects our internal thermostat, and that makes it harder for our bodies to adjust to fluctuating temperatures.
• Seniors are particularly prone to dehydration, which can exacerbate heat sensitivity and increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Fortunately, there are many ways for seniors and caregivers to stay cool indoors while still enjoying summertime fun and some season-themed activities.

1. Host a mocktail party for some friends.

Summertime is known as backyard BBQ season, but there’s no reason you can’t have an indoor party instead. Check out some summertime mocktail recipes, all of which are deliciously cool and refreshing. Decide which two or three you want to make and then gather the ingredients.

• Get a guest list together.
• Send out invitations for a lunchtime or late-afternoon party so those who still drive don’t have to navigate in the dark. 
• Create a summer-themed music playlist.
• Get some cocktail umbrellas or other fun drink accessories and colorful napkins to jazz things up.
• Consider making no-cook summertime appetizers to keep the house cool, or order a few appetizer platters from your local grocery store and have them delivered.

Once the guests arrive, they’ll enjoy the opportunity to socialize, laugh, and have fun with a group of your favorite people.

2. Plan a classic summer movie marathon

Choose three summer movie classics and host a summer movie marathon. Some ideas for movies include:

• Blue Hawaii.
• Beach Party.
• Gidget
• South Pacific
• Jaws (if they like a good ol’ fashioned thriller).
• Grease

While these movies happen to be beach-themed, any favorite movies will do. The real fun is giving yourself permission to watch three or more movies in a row, complete with popcorn, fizzy drinks, and your favorite movie snacks (sugar-free if you’re watching blood-sugar levels).

Of course, you can also visit your local movie theater, which offers senior discounts and special discount movie days. Many theaters periodically show classic movies, and it can be enjoyable for seniors to revisit these films on the big screen. 

3. Schedule video chats and games with the grandkids

Since the grandkids are still on summer break, it’s a great time for them to connect more often with their grandparents. Studies show that children who spend quality time with grandparents do better in body, mind, and spirit! And, of course, it’s beneficial for grandparents too.

Rather than just making conversation (which may not be easy depending on your grandchild’s age or personality type), playing games can make the experience more enjoyable. Explore some of the digital or online options that are out there, like:

• Read stories together on platforms like Caribu or Epic.
• Let older kids choose a book and then order a physical copy. Take turns reading one chapter or so during each video chat.
• Using online apps to play cards and other games, like PlayingCards.io, Go Fish, and Crazy 8s.
• Who doesn’t love a good round or two of Bingo? The Virtual Bingo website allows up to 30 people to play together for free. What a great way to spend time with long-distance family members all at once. 
• If you each have a game of Battleship, you can play with your own setups while hanging out online. If you don’t have the real game, then use Online Battleship instead.

If you have a smartphone or gadget, you can also engage with grandchildren (or any long-distance friends or family) using games like Words With Friends, Draw Something, or Overcooked. 

Odds are that any grandchildren over the age of 10 will have some ideas for you, too.

4. Have a dance party once a day

One of the most significant issues with not getting outside is that it can lead to insufficient exercise. While we have multiple articles about indoor exercises for seniors,

• Balance Exercises.
• Core Exercises.
• Exercises for homebound seniors.

We also know that our caregivers and clients have the most fun putting together playlists that include their favorite dance songs from each of them. Then schedule some time to have indoor dance parties. If your friends enjoy dancing, we recommend making a dance party a highlight of your Mocktail Party!

Just make sure to hydrate and adjust the thermostat setting so you don’t overheat with all that physical activity.

5. Volunteer for a Bay Area charity that you believe in

There are numerous worthy causes that could use a helping hand, and that’s especially true now that significant government funding is being cut from public and non-profit organizations. Create a list of local charities or causes you believe in, and then contact them to see if they have a volunteer program. 

Seniors reap so many benefits from volunteering:

• It gets them out of the house.
• They feel wanted, needed, and valued.
• Volunteering often involves people of all ages rather than just a similar peer age group which leads to deeper and more interesting social stimulation and engagement.

6. Act like a tourist and hit all the indoor hotspots

When’s the last time you went to a museum, Alcatraz, or other tourist hotspots around the Bay Area? There are so many outing ideas and things to do and see in this area, many of which offer senior discounts or have scheduled free or low-cost days. 

Some examples to kickstart your brainstorming include:

• Oakland Museum of California
• Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley
• Aquarium of the Bay
• USS Hornet Museum
• Chabot Space & Science Center
• Golden State Model Railroad Museum
• Musée Mécanique

This is just a small sample of the indoor attractions available here in the Bay Area. Make a plan to hit at least one or two a week to get out of the house and avoid cabin fever.

7. Take a class and learn something new

Most of the area's community colleges offer summertime and weekend community classes and workshops. Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn more about or a craft you’ve wanted to pick up? How about learning a new language? In addition to being fun and introducing you to new people, learning new things and working with your hands stimulates the brain and increases neural connections - important for slowing cognitive decline.

Licensed Caregivers Help Homebound Seniors Maintain an Active Lifestyle While Keeping Cool

Are you worried that a loved one living alone - or who transitioned to a facility - is spending too much doing nothing indoors all day? Without access to safe transportation, companionship, and healthy meals, it’s easy for seniors to slip into social isolation and a depression-like funk. 

Here at HomeAide Home Care, our licensed caregivers do more than just provide companionship to our clients. We help them maintain—or reclaim—their active lifestyle. And, we find ways to do that when summertime temperatures make it hard to be outside. Contact us to learn more about our services or to schedule a free, no-obligation, in-home assessment. We have a wealth of ideas for keeping aging loved ones safe, active, and socially engaged, regardless of what the weather has in store.

We wish that more physicians and other clinical healthcare professionals would provide more helpful, compassionate, and human-centered education, resources, and support that would help provide more inspiring and meaningful lives.

7 Things That Support Living A More Meaningful Life With Dementia

Here are seven things licensed caregivers wish doctors told their patients about living more meaningful lives with dementia. 

1. Brain changes caused by dementia cause more than just memory loss

Because we live in such a performance-driven and data-focused society, our clinical system places so much emphasis on the effects of memory loss - and how to combat that - but fails to really provide the everyday information and tips that support positive engagement and relational connection. 

Yes, there’s no doubt that dementia causes memory loss; however, there is far more that happens as a result of dementia-related brain changes in various processing centers. Understanding those changes can foster more connected and less stressful relationships.

We’ll talk about some of the most significant points below.

2. Peripheral vision loss requires (forward) face-to-face approaches from caregivers & loved ones.

One of the first changes happens in the visual processing centers. This includes a shrinking of peripheral vision as well as depth perception. Depending on when your loved one was assessed and diagnosed with dementia, some of these changes may already be noticeable.

As a result, people with dementia can be very startled, increasing their fight/flight responses if they are approached from the side or the back. Even a loving hug or caress from behind or a pat on the shoulder from the side can cause a seemingly “violent” response. In fact, it’s just an instinctual fight mode because the individual is so startled.

Caregivers should begin practicing their approaches from the front and training loved ones and visitors to do the same. That way, the person can see someone coming up to them. Slower approaches are best, and reaching out a hand to invite them to connect is far better than automatically taking their hand. Let them show you what is safe for them, rather than assuming.

Similarly, depth perception changes in ways that increase trip/fall hazards. Curbs may look higher or lower than they are; the black squares in a checkered tile floor can look like holes; even food on a plate loses dimension. So keep this in mind as you’re creating safer and more accessible living spaces for loved ones with dementia. 

3. Sound quality shifts and changes, but people with dementia aren’t deaf unless they have bona fide hearing loss.

Our brain works hard to decipher where sounds are coming from. That’s how you know the difference between rain pattering on the roof, versus water dripping from a faucet in your bathroom, or that the voice you hear talking is in the other room and not in front of you. This changes with dementia.

As dementia progresses, the brain loses its ability to filter sounds and orient them to a source. This means that all of the sounds are happening simultaneously, without much to distinguish them. The effect is chaotic and disorienting. If you can’t look in the person’s eyes when you’re speaking or calling to them, odds are they can’t always tell where you are. 

And, of course, less is more, so spend more time in quiet, with more focused - rather than varied - stimuli, and in smaller or less populated areas. Getting out in nature is always a good idea and can be very soothing. More time in calm, soothing, and routine environments - and in the natural world -benefits the circadian rhythm and can reduce episodes of sundowning syndrome.

4. They only have so much dopamine in a day

Along with heightened vulnerability to over-stimulation (visually and sound-wise), which requires a tremendous amount of processing energy, people with dementia produce and transmit less and less dopamine. This is especially true for those with Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's-related dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

While social engagement is critical in helping to maintain healthy and meaningful connections with loved ones who have dementia, too much social stimulation or activity can “use up the dopamine” and require equal periods of rest and calm. Once dopamine levels are depleted, the pleasure and reward centers are less likely to fire and can result in more agitation, anxiety, or even anger/violence.

5. Certain pathways remain intact until the end

While some processing centers and memory pathways deteriorate over time, others remain robustly intact. While some of these are very positive, favorite songs or hymns, memorized poems or prayers, rhythm and even dance choreography, etc., others are less pleasant (expletives, sexual slurs, racial slurs, other things that they never would have said before). 

This is par for the course and we always try to focus on - and bring out - those positive pathways, while never taking the negative ones personally. That said, if a spouse or family member becomes unpredictably angry, violent, or physically/emotionally/sexually abusive, it’s imperative that you get more support. If you or others are in danger, call 9-1-1 and let them know the person has dementia and is in a violent state. Otherwise, we recommend creating a “just in case” response plan with their primary care physician or neurologist that outlines what to to, how to handle it, and the next best steps to keep everyone safe.

6. Remember that you can change; they cannot

In the early stages of dementia, life will probably continue much as it always has, with a few modifications and more emphasis on long-term care planning. However, over time, brain changes cause changes that your loved one has no control over. You, other caregivers, and their friends/family are the ones who must commit to educating and learning about all of the positive ways to support someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s, and the the ways that you can change your mindset, intentions, expectations, and interactions to support the one you love.

We’ve talked about a few of them in the tips above. Over time, you may also consider:

• Having a roll of masking tape and colorful Sharpies at the door so anyone who visits, regardless of how close they are, can make a name tag and wear it on the center of their chest. This helps your loved one avoid embarrassment or confusion when they know the “should” know a name but can’t.
• Instruct all caregivers to always introduce themselves every time they enter the house and point to their name tag.
• Using a vareity of therapy modalities (reminscence, music, art, all kinds of play, games, dancing, etc.) to help them express themselves in all the ways they can.

We also recommend connection with high-quality dementia education and support via resources like:

• Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to [Dementia] Care.
• Alzheimers.gov’s Tips For Caregivers & Families of People With Dementia.
• Local and virtual support groups for individuals with dementia and/or their caregivers.

7. Minimize words and monitor non-verbal body language

The statistics around dementia and word loss are startling. By the time someone is transitioning from early to mid-stage dementia, they’ve lot about 25% of their word retention. So, that means they may only be taking in about three out of every four words you say to them. If you speak fast or in an intense rush, the number diminishes. By the time they are entering the later stages, they may only really get one or two words out of every four. This is like a word salad - everything is jumbled - so you can imagine the level of irritation or frustration that accompanies that. 

Being clear (but not yelling), and concise is key. Actions and energy may speak far more than your words, so monitoring non-verbals (minimizing things like eye rolling, voice raising, dramatic hand/arm gestures, etc., can help them to remain calm and absorb more of what you’re saying.

Over time, mimicking or demonstrating what they should do (for example, putting the bocci ball in their hand and showing them how to roll it so they can mimic you), can become far more helpful than repeating the same instructions (“just roll the ball!”) repeatedly. 

HomeAide Home Care Can Support Your Family’s Dementia Care Plan

Enlisting support from a licensed caregiving agency can make all the difference when it comes to getting the support you need while caring for a loved one with dementia. In addition to providing respite care, and increased services as needed, HomeAide Home Care can also help you create strategies that enhance connection and minimize stress, overwhelm, and negative or interactions. 

Schedule an in-home assessment to learn more about how customized care improves the lives of anyone living with dementia and their caregivers.

We do our best to highlight how much seniors benefit from social and community engagement, including a community healthcare model. Without a collaborative approach to aging, it’s easy to miss the typical red flags or signs that more support is needed or something is drastically wrong.

4 Tips To Approach Facilitating Communication For Senior Health & Wellbeing

All adults deserve the right to privacy and dignity, especially when we’re talking about medical, clinical, or mental health arenas - all of which are protected by HIPAA. However, there are times when the lines need to blur, especially if a lack of collaborative care negatively impacts an aging loved one’s health and well-being.

Here are three tips for fostering a respectful but collaborative approach to your senior loved one's long-term health plan and goals.

Have a conversation (or a series of conversations)

Sometimes, our interest or inquiry into how a senior is doing or expressing the desire to have more open communication about their medical/health status can feel threatening. So, the first place to start is with a conversation. For some adults and families, this may be more successful using a series of smaller conversations starting with “the easy stuff” and progressing to include more challenging topics.

Before you initiate any conversation, visit our post on how well-meaning emotions can block loved ones from quality care. The post covers some of the most likely “sticking points” so running through them can help you be more prepared and present to everyone’s concerns.

Some of the most important topics to cover during these conversations include things like:

• Does memory or cognitive decline seem to be an issue?
• What age-related issues are already diagnosed or evident, and what are the helpful support systems for them?
• Are there current advanced care directives in place, including the healthcare proxy and power of attorney?
• Is there an updated will/estate plan filed (and where are copies when needed?)
• How long will mom/dad be staying in their home?
• Is the home proactively set up for safe aging-in-place? Is it accessible, free from common slip/trip/fall hazards, equipped with adequate safety lighting inside and out, 
• What are the signposts indicating more care might be needed?
• Who will be stepping in to provide additional support as needed?
• What is the plan when your loved one needs more help with meal prep, transportation, or housekeeping? 
• Etc.

Things like this are essential to senior health because, in addition to ensuring there are clear point-people to make decision-makers if something happens, there are also lots of safeguards in place to keep loved ones as independently safe and active as possible.

Ask for access to your loved one’s healthcare portals

The digital world has made it easier than ever for organized families and caregivers to be in touch and keep their fingers on the pulse of an aging loved one’s well-being.

Ask your loved one for log-in access to their healthcare portals. These days, that could include:

• Primary care physician.
• Specialists.
• Pharmacy.
• Dentist.
• Optometrist/ophthalmologist.
• Therapist.
• Geriatric or neurology specialists.

Again, the idea of one (or maybe two point people at the most) makes the most sense here to keep healthcare providers from being overwhelmed. Group-relevant information can be disseminated from there.

Create a shared family care plan when facilitating communication

All too often, one or two members of the family wind up with more than the lion’s share of caring for an aging parent or grandparent. This is usually because care needs increase over time. So, at first, making some appointment arrangements, stopping by for occasional visits, or helping out with a few “honey do” chores was manageable.

However, over time, seniors who live at home need increasing help with everyday tasks. Knowing this ahead of time can help your family create a more equitable and shared family care plan. Without everyone pitching in (physically or financially), primary caregivers burn out.

• Set up a calendar for different family members to have FaceTime, Google Meet, WhatsApp, etc., and video chats. These digital connections support social and family engagement and give everyone real-time updates on how things are going.
• Sign up for meal delivery services or create a MealTrain account to keep healthy, delicious, and easy-to-heat meals and snacks in the fridge.
• Take turns driving mom/dad to appointments (or hire a transportation service like Uber Health or a paid caregiver to do it).
• Interview prospective senior home care agencies before you need them to learn more about what they offer and their policies. After a few in-home assessments, you’ll have a good idea of which one is the right fit.
• See if family members who aren’t geographically close by can help pay for senior care services or meal provisions since they can’t physically help out.

Work with licensed senior care providers 

Licensed home care agencies work closely with families and healthcare providers to improve our clients' health, well-being, and quality of life. You can scale the services to match the need. So, if your loved one lives alone and you live elsewhere - or you’re swamped juggling work and a young family - we can help fill in the gaps. This is especially important once independent seniors have a dementia diagnosis if they plan to stay at home. 

Our work can involve as little as providing once-a-week visits for companionship, light housekeeping, meal support, or transportation to/from appointments or social events. Over time, we can scale up to meet the needs, always with an unwavering focus on facilitating communication between you, your loved one, and their healthcare providers.

Schedule an Assessment With HomeAide Home Care

Do you feel like there needs to be an uptick in collaboration to keep your loved one safe, healthy, active, and independent? Schedule an assessment with HomeAide Home Care. 

Together, our team has more than half a century of experience supporting the needs of our clients and helping families keep their fingers on the pulse of their senior loved one’s daily rhythm and well-being.

It's natural for family members to become concerned when they notice their senior loved one eating too much junk food, processed food, or sugary food. It's also true that we are what we eat, and our diets become especially important as we age and manage other health conditions. 

If you're wondering why your elderly parents eat so much junk food, pay attention- there's probably a reason that needs to be addressed. The sooner you get to the heart of the matter, the sooner you can begin integrating healthier foods into their diet so they enjoy a balance of foods they love with foods that will sustain a higher quality of life.

5 Reasons Seniors Gravitate Toward Junk Food

For seniors to live as able-bodied and independently as possible, they must be nourished with healthy foods that sustain cognitive function, build strong bones, and maintain a healthy weight. However,  it's not uncommon for adults 65 and over, especially those who cannot drive anymore or live alone, to gravitate toward junk foods or sugary foods.

In many cases, ensuring your senior loved one has regular access to fresh, healthy foods that align with any physician-recommended dietary focuses is one of the best things you can do to help them enjoy a higher quality daily life.

We recommend starting a conversation free of judgment or frustration and rich with curiosity about what may have changed in their lives. In some cases, you may get straightforward answers. They may even admit that they're old, acknowledge they're closer to dying and want to enjoy the foods they love. However, you might also determine or intuit that there's more to the story.

Here are some common reasons worth investigating. Your loved ones' healthcare provider may also have valuable insight.

An underlying health condition such as type 2 diabetes

Certain health conditions can cause sugar cravings, and one of those is type 2 diabetes. If your loved one hasn't been diagnosed with type 2 and you're noticing a significant uptake of sugary Foods, this is something worth investigating. The same is true if your loved one has an existing type 2 diabetes diagnosis; increased sugar intake could be a sign that they're not managing their blood sugar balance correctly.

Other symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Waking at night to urinate
• Unexplained or unusual fatigue
• Recent unintentional weight loss often due to loss of muscle mass
• Weakness
• Blurred vision
• Numbness or tingling sensation in hands and/or feet
• Frequent infections or slower-healing wounds
• Increased appetite and hunger (often including intense sugar cravings)

Cognitive decline related to Alzheimer's or dementia

Cognitive decline likely plays a role in what they choose to eat. If your loved one has Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, or other health conditions that include cognitive decline, this can impact a person's diet. following recipes or remembering what constitutes a healthy meal may be part of the problem. This means their hunger cues are quickly answered by reaching for what's easy, what tastes good, or what isn't rotten and that typically means junk food.

Also, brain changes from dementia also affect pleasure sensors. However, it doesn’t eliminate the “high” associated with sugar. This increases their interest in eating sweets and can cause significant health deficits if they don’t have proper meal support.

The reality is that any diagnosis of dementia-related condition should immediately trigger a long-term care plan, including assistance from experienced caregivers who can increase their services as the disease progresses. In the meantime, you can rest assured that your loved one has access to things like Aaron running or having their meals provided for them.

Comfort eating ( are they lonely, depressed, or anxious?)

Many people underestimate the risk seniors face of feeling lonely, depressed, or anxious. In addition to age-related physical changes that can prevent them from enjoying their normal daily activities, seniors are often grappling with significant loss, including the death of their spouse or partner as well as former colleagues or members of their close peer group.

We are all susceptible to comfort eating, and if you live alone or your social life has significantly diminished, it's not unusual to spend more time around the house snacking on comfort foods - which tend to be more junk food than healthy food in nature.

They're unable to drive to a store or shop for healthy food

If your loved one can no longer drive safely or doesn't have the stamina to run errands, including going to the grocery store, they will opt for shelf-stable foods. Unfortunately, this typically leads to a diet primarily focused on foods that are unhealthily high in sodium, sugar, and preservatives. This can eventually lead to senior malnutrition.

Many Bay Area organizations are dedicated to ensuring the senior population has access to healthy meals and snacks every day. This includes things like scheduling Meals on Wheels to be delivered or working with a local licensed caregiving agency to provide part-time or full-time support to ensure your loved one has support with running errands, grocery shopping, preparing healthy meals, and any other services that can keep them living safely and independently.

They lack the stamina or ability to meet their daily needs

One of the most significant red flags that loved ones need support to remain safely and independently in their home is the inability to meet daily needs. Sometimes, this is due to specific medical conditions or mobility issues. Other times, it may be related to cognitive decline, as mentioned above.

However, more often than not, it's just a simple lack of stamina accompanying aging. Even with a healthy diet, moderate exercise, and regular social engagement, sometimes loved ones just begin to wind down. 

This can show up in a variety of ways, but some of the most common are:

• A struggle to do their laundry regularly
• Evidence of bumps or bruises that may indicate  they are losing their balance or falling more often
• Pantries that seem more bare than full or contain more processed foods than fresh fruits, vegetables, and perishable healthy snacks.
• A less-than-tidy house.
• Evidence that personal hygiene may have slipped or that toileting issues may have become a problem.

If you notice any of these signs in your aging parent or grandparent, now is the time to get serious about creating plans and strategies that will keep them healthy, vibrant, and in their own homes if that's what they wish. Consulting with local licensed caregiving agencies is an excellent way to learn more about what's available.

HomeAide Home Care Ensures Clients Enjoy Healthy, Delicious Meals

The caregivers at HomeAide Home Care often begin their journey with our clients by visiting once, twice, or three times a week to check in, deliver groceries or run errands, support medication management, and prepare delicious, nutritious meals that can be quickly heated and eaten later.  As our clients’ needs progress, we upgrade our services to accommodate that - always doing our best to bring joy and meaning into their daily lives. 

Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation, in-home assessment and to learn more about how we can help.

Younger caregivers and family members may notice that their client or aging loved one feels much colder than they do, which can lead to elevated thermostats and hot stuffy rooms.  While this is normal, it’s important to make sure there are no undetected health issues or other potentially harmful reasons for this.

Once we establish possible causes, family and professional caregivers can take steps to ensure everyone's comfort both indoors and outdoors.

5 Reasons Seniors Tend To Feel More Sensitive To Cold Than Others

There are several reasons why seniors begin to feel cold when others are perfectly comfortable. Here are some of the most common.

Less fat insulation between the skin and muscles

Many seniors begin to lose both muscle and fatty tissues as they age. Assuming they are well-nourished and managing any existing health conditions, this is very normal. However, with the loss of that natural insulation, they’ll start to feel cold at higher temperatures than they did when they were younger. 

If this is the main cause, the easiest ways to support their comfort include:

• Keeping soft, sweaters, jackets, or blankets in easy-to-reach locations.
• Wearing thick, soft socks (always with high-quality non-slip grips to prevent slip/fall accidents).
• Playing with thermostat levels to find their “sweet spot” (however, this can lead to expensive utility costs or increased discomfort of younger caregivers or guests. In that case, sweaters/blankets are a better option).
• Using electric blankets (with auto-shutoff function to reduce fire risk) can be used in a favorite chair and in bed.
• Traveling with extra layers in the car so they’re available when you’re out and about.
• Use space heaters (again, this can be a fire risk, so they should only be used with strict adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions).

A slower metabolism

Along the same lines as reduced fatty tissues, our metabolism slows down with age, impacting circulation and other factors that help regulate our core body temperature and thermostat. A slower heartbeat and reduced circulation mean less warmth. 

Also, some of the receptors that tell our body to constrict the blood vessels and conserve warmth aren’t as efficient as they used to be. This also contributes to the loss of body heat.

All of the tips listed for #1 apply here as well. Extra layers are almost always a partial solution. However, you can also ensure your loved one gets enough exercise, which boosts metabolism and circulation, making them feel warmer. We have several safe senior exercise ideas, depending on the situation.

• Home or chairbound.
• For core strength and stability.
• Improve balance and leg strength.
• To beat the summertime heat.

They’ll warm up during and right after exercising, and that metabolic boost should last for a while afterward.

Finally, drinking warm or hot fluids and foods can also help them feel warm from the inside out. Decaffeinated teas, coffees, hot chocolate (keeping an eye on sugar intake), soups, stews, and oatmeal or cream of wheat are all good ideas. Heating drinks like horchata (a delicious rice milk beverage with warming cinnamon and spices) or their Ensures can also help.

Medical conditions

Certain medical conditions can lead to internal temperature dysregulation or symptoms that include reduced circulation and feeling cold all the time. Some of the most common include:

• Heart or vascular (cardiovascular) disease.
• Diabetes.
• Anemia (low iron and reduced red blood cell count).
• Kidney disease.
• Thyroid problems.
• Infections or illnesses.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs), can present very differently in seniors than in the younger population.

When was the last time your loved one had a thorough physical exam with their GP, including bloodwork and urinalysis? If it’s been more than a year, schedule an appointment and keep their physician updated about the fact they feel cold all the time. 

It’s also worth a check-in with their primary healthcare provider and specialists if:

• These symptoms are new.
• They’re feeling colder than normal.
• They feel cold (even with additional layers) when others are comfortable or hot.
• Feeling cold prevents them from participating in outings or other favorite activities.

Medication side effects can make us more sensitive to cold

On the other side of the medical condition coin is that feeling cold - or the factors that cause us to feel cold - can be a side effect of certain medications. 

For example, both beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers list feeling cold as one of their side effects. In their work to lower blood pressure, these medications also alter circulation, which is known to cause unusually cold hands and feet.

Medications can work against - rather than with - each other. We call this a contraindication. Sometimes, despite healthcare providers’ best efforts, they don’t realize that the combinations or doses of a patient’s medications create avoidable side effects. This is especially common for patients with prescriptions from various doctors and specialists.

In this case, we recommend scheduling a consultation with the pharmacist to review all of their current medications/doses to make sure it’s all as it should be. And, don’t forget that medication management is essential, or the cold they’re feeling could be the result of accidental under- or over-dosing themselves. 

Something is wrong with the home environment, thermostat, or HVAC system

Sometimes, we miss the most obvious answer because we assume it’s a physical rather than environmental issue. Things to think about are:

• Is there a window or door that has been left partially cracked or open?
• Have they changed their thermostat setting since the weather changed (or does it need a new battery)?
• Does the thermostat cycle on/off properly? 
• Is the HVAC updated and tuned up? Just because the system blows air through the vents doesn’t mean it’s conditioned to the thermostat’s temperature setting.
• Does their home have adequate air sealing and weather stripping around windows, doors, and external penetrations?
• Are the attic/exterior walls adequately insulated and sealed?

A few senior-friendly home improvements may be just the thing to keep your loved one more comfortable if neglected home maintenance is causing them to feel cold. If you aren’t able to check on these items yourself, schedule an appointment with a local HVAC technician and insulation contractor to assess the situation. 

Wellness Checks From Licensed Home Care Aides Keep Loved Ones Comfortable

One of the best ways to keep an expert eye on your aging loved one’s well-being is to schedule weekly wellness checks or other in-home care services with a licensed home senior care agency.

HomeAide Home Care caregivers are compassionate companions who can keep their fingers on the pulse of your loved ones’ well-being - including keeping them warm and cozy. We keep in close communication with their designated family member(s) and can intersperse additional home care services as needed. Contact us to schedule an in-home assessment to learn more about your loved one’s needs.

We all experience ups and downs, and seniors aren’t any different. However, notable personality changes in elderly loved ones require assessment by medical or senior care professionals.

Behavioral Or Personality Changes To Should Pay Attention To In Seniors

It’s not uncommon for adults 65 or older to get set in their ways, have a hard time changing their routine, or feel grumpy from time to time due to everyday, age-related aches, pains, or changes in physical ability. 

However, significant changes in a loved one’s personality or behaviors warrant investigation.

Here are some of the most common personality changes indicating something more significant needs to be addressed.

 If you notice any of the following shifts in behavior, we recommend checking in with your loved one’s primary healthcare provider(s) or scheduling an assessment with a senior care specialist.

Retreating from social life or disinterest in favorite activities

Social engagement is a critical component of human health and well-being, especially for adults 65+ who live alone or lack regular transportation access. Studies overwhelmingly demonstrate that social isolation in seniors has detrimental effects on physical as well as mental/emotional health.

If you notice your parent or grandparent no longer gets together with friends or peers, are reluctant to attend religious services or social gatherings, or no longer do the things they loved to do - find out why.

Some of the most common causes of this behavioral change are:

• Embarrassment about an inability to perform routine hygiene and self-care tasks.
• The beginning of dementia-related memory loss makes it difficult to remember names and faces.
• Depression
• Incontinence.
• Instability or mobility issues they are unable or embarrassed to address with a cane or walker.

Becoming unusually reactive, angry, belligerent, or even violent

It’s not surprising that older adults may become grouchier or more reactive than usual. This is especially true if they are no longer able to do the things they love, they’re grieving the loss of their spouse or close friends, or they have medical conditions that cause them pain or discomfort. 

If all of the above is true for your aging loved one, start by addressing each of those issues to see if some support around the root cause(s) helps to bring back their more patient, content selves.

However, unusual escalations in reactivity, anger, or violence are often tied to cognitive changes and are frequently side effects of Alzheimer’s or dementia. This requires attention ASAP or your parent/grandparent could wind up doing irreversible harm to themselves or someone else.

They are always sad or seem depressed

We mentioned that a social retreat or the cessation of doing the things they enjoyed can be a sign of senior depression. Consistent sad feelings, feeling hopeless or unwanted, and other signs indicate seniors may be depressed.  Seniors have a higher risk of depression than others for a variety of reasons, with the death of their spouse, partner, or close friend being a significant trigger. 

Accurately identifying and treating depression can make a tremendous difference in the quality (and appreciation) of daily life. In addition to some of the things we mentioned above, signs of senior depression include:

• Sleeping all the time.
• Lack of energy.
• Over- or under-eating.
• Expressing feelings that their lives, or the lives of others, would be better without them.
• Turning down social engagements or weekly gatherings they used to enjoy.
• Mental fogginess.
• The inability to focus.

Sometimes, a general malaise or depression is assumed to be the beginnings of memory loss or written off as a natural byproduct of aging - which it is not. Signs and symptoms of depression and other behavioral changes should always be taken seriously.

Potential Causes Of Personality Or Behavior Changes

We’ve talked about some of the most common factors that could change a senior’s behavior, like the onset of dementia or grieving the loss of spouses, partners, or close friends who have died. 

Other factors that may contribute to personality changes include:

The death or relocation of loved ones & friends

The relocation of aging friends and peers to senior care facilities or to long-distance locations so they’re harder to keep in touch with. Your family unit may be very close, but family is not the same as having a spouse/partner friends, and peers close by. Individual or group grief support can be helpful to provide a sounding board, and so they don’t feel so alone. Finding ways to connect with the wider community can also be helpful.

Progressive vision, hearing loss, or declines in physical ability

Unmanaged progression of vision or hearing loss can make it difficult to keep up with conversations, television programs, and other activities, taking the zest out of life. Similarly, mobility challenges or the loss of dexterity in the hands can make it impossible to do the same hobbies, crafts, or physical activities they used to enjoy.

Medication side effects or contraindications (reactions)

Medication side effects can notably alter a person’s behaviors, personality, physical limitations, and cognitive abilities. This is often overlooked, especially when prescriptions come from a range of physicians/specialists who aren’t coordinating care. We recommend anyone on multiple medications have an annual review of their prescriptions/supplements with a pharmacist to rule out contraindications or doses that may be too high/low.

Urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can show up very differently in seniors compared to the younger population. In adults 65+, UTIs can be asymptomatic and lead to mental confusion or dementia-like symptoms. If you notice a sudden onset of behavioral or personality changes, it’s worth scheduling a physical and requesting urine testing, as well as a review of medications/doses.

Poor sleep habits

Seniors are prone to insomnia and interrupted sleep, which can lead to a chronic lack of sleep. Loss of sleep contributes to a range of side effects, so finding ways to establish healthy sleep habits can make a noticeable difference. 

Things you can do to support healthier sleep include getting more physical exercise and movement each day, adequate social engagement, and avoiding stimulants in the hours before bedtime.

Senior Home Care Specialists Can Prevent & Support Personality Changes

The team at HomeAide Home Care is well-versed in how aging and age-related scenarios contribute to personality changes in senior loved ones. Our free, no-obligation in-home assessments are a great place to start. From there, we can discuss how home care services can be tailored to meet your loved one’s needs. 

From providing satisfying companionship and transportation services to running errands, making meals, and supporting their daily routine, we’re here to ensure your parent or grandparent can enjoy a higher quality of life each and every day. Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can support your family. 

Senior hygiene is a foundation for health and well-being and includes everything from regular showers/baths, teeth brushing, daily changes of underwear and clothing, linen changes, and basic housekeeping. Without these fundamentals, seniors are at risk for infections, illnesses, and trip and fall accidents. 

Plus, a decline in hygiene practices is also one of the key red flags that a senior loved one needs more support to age in place independently in their home.

Addressing Declines In Aging Loved Ones’ Hygiene & Self-Care

While it might not be an easy topic to broach, addressing any signs of decline in a parent’s, grandparent's, or neighbor’s hygiene is essential. In addition to being a significant sign that they need more support (or that something else may be amiss), their health is in jeopardy.

What Constitutes Senior Hygiene?

In general, the term hygiene refers to “...conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness” (Oxford Dictionary).

As professional senior caregivers, we take a holistic and big-picture approach to hygiene, including housekeeping as well as personal care steps. So, for us, an assessment of a client’s cleanliness or hygiene includes things like:

• Regular showering or bathing.
• Daily teeth brushing.
• Brushed or combed hair.
• Clean laundry, bed linens, and towels.
• Changing clothes (including underwear) every day.
• The ability to get to the bathroom or practice hygienic continence care.
• Clean and clipped/filed finger and toenails.
• A generally picked up and clean home.

It’s time to have a gentle conversation if any of these are lacking. 

Poor Hygiene Puts Seniors At Risk

Again, we understand this isn’t always an easy conversation, but it’s necessary. Here are some of the risks associated with poor senior hygiene or personal care:

Dementia or some other cause of cognitive decline

If there isn’t a diagnosis already, a noticeable slip in personal hygiene may indicate that your loved one has dementia or another type of cognitive decline. If that is the case, in-home care is a must to keep your loved ones safe and healthy at home.

Within the mental health umbrella, a lack of personal hygiene could also be a sign that the individual is experiencing depression or greater-than-normal anxiety, both of which can keep them from performing normal daily routines.

Urinary tract and other infections 

Seniors are at high risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to their age, compromised immune systems, and their tendency towards dehydration. Unlike UTIs in children and adults under the age of 55, UTIs in seniors can be asymptomatic. This means they can harbor an infection that becomes far more serious than it needs to be, putting them at risk for kidney infection. Additionally, they may exhibit signs of memory loss or unusual behaviors that mimic dementia. As you can imagine, any issues with incontinence also make hygiene a top priority.

Skin infections are another severe threat because our skin thins as we age. Even very small cuts, abrasions, or breaks in the skin, combined with poor hygiene, opens the door for staph and other infections to establish themselves. If the senior is fairly sedentary or bed-bound, bed sores are a risk and can lead to systemic infections without proper care.

Keeping their environment, underwear, and clothing clean helps to prevent unnecessary infections. 

General or foodborne illnesses

A dirty environment becomes a hotbed for bacteria and viruses, making seniors vulnerable to general infections. Any adult who struggles to clean their home or take care of daily hygiene routines probably struggles to run errands or keep fresh or healthy foods in the refrigerator and pantry. This can lead them to eat rotten or spoiled food, which can cause food poisoning or other foodborne illnesses.

Trip and fall accidents

When senior hygiene slips, so does housekeeping. If your parent isn’t taking care of their body as they used to, odds are they’re not keeping the house tidy or clean either. Trip and fall accidents are a leading cause of hospitalization and surgery in adults 55+, and those accidents are often the catalyst for a downward turn in physical, mental, and independent abilities. 

Providing light housekeeping to keep the home decluttered and clean is a simple way to minimize fall risk and keep loved ones safe.

Social isolation

Barring cognitive decline, most adults who struggle to handle daily hygiene needs become highly self-conscious of their appearance and smell. This can lead to social isolation because they are embarrassed to have people over or to get together with their friends or social peers.

Study after study shows that social engagement is essential for our emotional and mental well-being, which is even more critical for those living alone. When seniors spend time with those they love, they are far more prone to depression and anxiety. Medical experts also see an uptick in medical issues or a faster progression of their diseases when they begin withdrawing from the outside world.

In-Home Care Prioritizes Senior Hygiene & Wellbeing For Aging Loved Ones

Organizing in-home care is a smart way to ensure that your loved one feels clean and fresh every day and is living in a hygienic environment.

Step One: Have the conversation

First, it’s time to bring the subject up in a very gentle and curious way. It can start out something like, “I notice you were wearing that same outfit when we video chatted the other day,” or, “Your house always used to be so clean and neat, and I see things are changing…”

• This can open up the door. However, you must respect their wishes as well. Make sure you take into account:
• Whether they prefer a family member or professional caregiver to fill in some of the gaps.
• Whether or not a family member is available, in which case starting out with a small dose of in-home care (like errand running, transportation services, housekeeping, or meal prep) can get them used to the situation.
• If they’d prefer someone of the same sex to help them with bathing, changing, incontinence care, and other aspects of personal hygiene.

In many cases, objective, third-party input is more effective than hearing concerns from children/grandchildren. Connect with your loved one’s primary physician to discuss your concerns and create a collaborative plan that honors the individual’s autonomy while supporting their health and 

Step Two: Schedule in-home assessments with licensed caregivers

Licensed in-home care agencies are another objective, a third-party option that provides a clear assessment of the present situation. Most agencies offer free, in-home consultations. This allows them to meet with prospective clients and their families/caregivers.

You may find that your loved one opens up or answers your questions more honestly or directly than when you try to converse with them on your own.

Step Three: Create a scaled long-term care plan

If your loved one’s doctor and/or a caregiving team confirms what you've observed as a concern, it’s time to create a long-term care plan. Sometimes, an aging adult may concede they need support and move forward with what’s recommended.

In other cases, a scaled care plan is the best way forward. This allows the individual to adjust to a team of caregivers, starting with the most essential services first and gradually adding more as needed. Even something as simple as weekly visits can provide a significant amount of support via:

• Grocery shopping
• Meal prep
• Laundry and linen changes
• Light housekeeping
• Wellness checks

From there, we can add more days or services as needed, including:

• Companionship (reading, dancing, listening to music, conversation, supporting communication with family members, etc.)
• Weekly outings
• Bathing/showering
• General grooming support
• Incontinence care
• Medication management

Once clients get used to the rhythm, we’ve found they have no problem accepting increased support with every shift.

Support Senior Hygiene By Scheduling A Free In-Home Assessment

Is it time your aging loved one had more support taking care of their daily hygiene and wellness tasks? Take that first step by scheduling a free, in-home assessment with HomeAide Home Care. Our agency has provided compassionate, reliable support for seniors in the East Bay for more than 20 years.

Sometimes, it takes an objective observer to notice things that family and friends easily miss when it comes to signs of decline in aging loved ones. First, these changes happen over a period of time, and if you’re a constant witness, there are few opportunities to notice “before” and “afters.” Second, most adults want to age in place independently, and they hate to cause loved ones any worry, so they can hide or gloss over the truth when they’re asked, “How are you doing?”

PROFESSIONAL SENIOR CARE TRIP: Bringing proactive support into the mix is one of the best ways to prevent anything but the natural decline associated with aging or existing medical conditions. The healthier, stronger, and more vibrant seniors are, the higher quality of life they enjoy.

5 Red Flags Indicating Senior Loved Ones Need More Support

Needing more support does not mean having to move into an assisted living facility. The opposite is more often the truth. Neglecting signs of decline in aging adults means they lack the support they need to live safely and independently in their homes. 

Without personalized resources, they are at higher risk for debilitating falls or accidents that lead to hospital stays or the need for acute rehab and skilled nursing - both of which increase their chances of having to move out of their home permanently.

Here are six common red flags associated with senior decline. If you notice these, some type of help, support, or long-term care plan needs to be put into place.

Notable weight loss (or the cupboards seem bare)

One of the first signs that something isn’t quite right is a loss of weight or noticing that the refrigerator or pantry seems sparse. Assuming your loved one keeps up with their annual wellness checks and their health is stable, this indicates two things. 

First, it’s a sign they aren’t getting out there and running errands for themselves. This may mean driving has been a challenge or they’ve had a driving incident you don’t know about. It could also mean they lack the stamina to run errands and are living on a bare minimum.

In either case, weight loss and lack of food mean they’re not eating well, and that’s the beginning of a rapid downhill spiral.

Support Options. Talk to them about having meals delivered from a local food service so they have fresh, healthy meal options waiting for them to reheat easily. In-home caregivers can also stop by once a week to prepare delicious meals and snacks that align with dietary needs/restrictions. This also serves as a weekly wellness check and allows us to take care of other items that can support their well-being.

They shouldn't be driving

There are several signs indicating seniors shouldn’t be behind the wheel anymore. Some of the most common are:

• They’re prohibited from driving based on a medical diagnosis (frequent TIAs, stroke, etc.) or due to medication side effects.
• More frequent fender benders or inexplicable damage to the car.
• Traffic tickets.
• Legal blindness.
• Diagnosis of early dementia or Alzheimer's.
• They’re found after getting lost or being confused about where they are.

It’s not easy to get a strong-willed and independent adult to give up their keys. For many, it feels like the ultimate surrender of their sense of self. However, this step is necessary to keep themselves and others safe.

Support Options: If your loved one doesn’t have dementia or any cognitive decline, public transportation or ridesharing options like Uber or Lyft are always options. You can also connect with Bay Area senior-specific transportation services, although these schedules may be more restrictive or may require reservations. Local homecare agencies also offer transportation services, which can be set up on a set schedule.

Their house is dirty or cluttered

Waning energy leaves seniors less able to clean their own homes, change the sheets, do laundry, and so on. In addition to being a hygiene issue, it can make them more prone to slipping and falling, tripping over clutter, or being unable to find what they need.

Support Options: Hiring housekeeping help that comes once a week is a game changer. Once they’re used to it, our clients can’t imagine life without it. There’s nothing better than living in a clean, fresh home and having regularly changed sheets and towels. While you can hire any reputable cleaning service, we recommend using a licensed caregiving agency. In addition to knowing housekeeping is done by experienced and vetted aides (complete with background checks), we can also implement other senior support services as needed over time.

Their personal hygiene is suffering

Along those same lines, seniors who are depressed, suffering from undiagnosed medical conditions, experiencing medication contraindications, or who simply don’t feel good stop taking care of routine hygiene steps like bathing/showering, brushing their teeth, changing their clothes, etc. 

They may be too embarrassed to tell you if they've become incontinent. This will be evident when you’re with them in person but not if your long-distance connection takes place via phone or video chats.  

SUPPORT TIP: As with malnourishment, lack of personal hygiene indicates more support is necessary. A weak body and immune system that isn’t kept clean is at risk for things like UTIs, which can lead to dementia-like symptoms in seniors. And depression is always a potential factor with a lack of personal care. In this case, bringing in a companion or part-time caregiver can do wonders for taking care of the big-picture issues and getting your loved one back to feeling themselves again.

They stop seeing friends or attending normal social engagements

A social retreat is a major red flag that should not be ignored. First and foremost, healthy social engagement is essential to senior health and well-being. 

Staying at home alone is a recipe for senior depression (if it’s not already part of the equation). It’s also a sign that they don’t feel safe driving or using public transportation. 

SUPPORT TIP: Get curious about why they’ve stopped attending their favorite activities or connecting with friends. Be prepared to read between the lines. Connecting with local senior centers, volunteer opportunities, or hiring a senior companion (who can also drive them places) are all ways to get them back into social action again, which often revives their zest for life.

HomeAide Home Care Prevents Unnecessary Decline In Senior Loved Ones

Don’t wait for the first signs of decline before bringing in experienced support to help senior loved ones age safely in their homes. 

The compassionate team at HomeAide Home Care provides a wide range of services dedicated to helping aging family members feel their very best, with ample access to doing the things they love. Contact us to schedule a free, in-home assessment and learn more about creating a personalized, long-term care plan for your parent or grandparent.

Aging and depression shouldn’t go hand-in-hand, but they often do. There are many reasons for this, ranging from understandable grief in the wake of partner and peer deaths to the social isolation from a mostly housebound lifestyle. 

While doing things to reduce the risk of depression in seniors should be a primary component of any senior care plan, noticing the signs of depression is equally important. The sooner action is taken, the faster your loved one can experience more satisfaction, joy, and connection in their daily life.

Depression In Seniors: Statistics & Causes

Here are some of the most recent statistics from the CDC about depression in the senior population (55+).

• 20% of adults 55+ experience some type of mental health issue, including anxiety and depression.
• Senior depression also affects physical well-being, often speeding up progressive side effects of medical conditions and Alzheimer’s/dementia.
• Men are more prone to severe depression and the highest rates of suicide.
• Aging adults most likely to report experiencing depression are those who report not having adequate social and emotional support in their daily lives.

Most important to note, as we mentioned in the intro:

“...depression is not a normal part of growing older. Rather, in 80% of cases, it is a treatable condition. Unfortunately, depressive disorders are a widely under-recognized condition and often are untreated or undertreated among older adults.”

Some depression red flags

Some of the signs that a senior feels depressed are:

• They do not eat as much as they used to or overeat.
• Excessive use of alcohol, recreational drugs, or prescription medications.
• Sleeping all the time (unrelated to health issues or the natural dying process).
• Avoiding social interaction or not participating in their favorite events or activities anymore.
• Unusual moodiness or irritability.
• Crying more often.
• Admitting they feel sad, lonely, anxious, or more scared than normal.

We all have ups and downs, but if you feel something is amiss, it probably is. Investigate further and see what might be done to support them. In some cases, it means putting more support in place. In others, it may mean a conversation with their healthcare provider or scheduling a few appointments with a local therapist specializing in senior mental health to get a professional assessment.

The Most Common Causes Of Depression

Some of the most common causes of depression in adults 55+ are:

Having a previous history of depression

Seniors who experienced bouts of depression throughout their lives are more prone to depression as they age. If you know your parent or loved one suffered from depression throughout their life, speak with them and their healthcare provider about proactively managing depression as they age. 

This may mean continuing to tweak medication prescriptions to account for other lifestyle changes or new prescription medications (to avoid contraindications from bad drug combinations) and taking a more intentional approach to ensure they have daily touch-ins and a routine that keeps them active, productive and engaged.

Side effects of existing health conditions

Biochemical changes are certainly a factor for some individuals, especially if they have certain medical diagnoses. Some of the diseases that increase a person’s chances of becoming depressed are:

• Dementia.
• Arthritis (which can significantly limit a person’s physical activity or ability to get out of the house).
• Cancer.
• Parkinson’s.
• Heart disease.
• Stroke.

Not surprisingly, the more the disease or medical condition limits their ability to move, independently perform daily tasks, maintain social connections, or participate in favorite pastimes/hobbies, the more likely they are to be depressed.

Not having access to a healthy diet, exercise, and social engagement

The more we highlight the factors that increase depression risk in seniors, the more you’ll notice it’s a self-feeding cycle. For example, someone with any of the above medical issues may also find it harder to perform daily tasks inherent in living a healthy lifestyle. 

The older people get, the more their energy may wane, especially if they live alone and have nobody to share the daily tasks and workloads with.

Seniors need daily access to:

• Healthy and delicious meals and snacks.
• The ability to run errands and have what they need on hand.
• Hydration (dehydration plays a major role in senior fatigue, depression, and even dementia-like symptoms)
• Regular exercise (even if they’re chairbound)
• Social engagement in alignment with their pre-senior life (more on that below).
• A clean, organized, and safe environment (we call this a “senior-friendly home”).
• Daily hygiene (which gets harder if there are mobility issues or for those with dementia).
• A day that’s full enough to make them tired so they can enjoy a good night’s sleep.
• And so on.

If a senior chooses to age in place independently, it’s important to find ways to meet these and other needs via family and friend caregivers as well as professional companionship or in-home caregiving agencies.

Loss of driving privileges can cause depression in seniors

It makes sense that everyone should relinquish the keys and driving privileges when age-related changes make driving more dangerous. Things like uncorrectable vision loss, slowed reflexes, cognitive decline, or significant weakness that limits driving abilities signal it’s time to let someone else take the wheel.

However, for safety’s sake, someone else must take the wheel so loved ones have access to:

• Companionship.
• Social engagements.
• Meetings and events held by their favorite clubs, organizations, or other membership-oriented activities.
• Travel or fun, local outings.
• Their favorite restaurants.
• Any routines that took them out of the house or “out about town” when they used to drive.

A housebound senior deserves access via public transportation, local senior transportation services, or driving services offered by licensed homecare agencies so they don’t feel trapped at home. If seniors can’t get where they want to go, they’re more apt to become housebound, and that leads to depression and further retreat from the things they love.

Feeling worthless, unnecessary, or a burden

Sadly, with the loss of mobility, their spouse/partner, peers, or as the family grows up and moves on, many seniors wind up feeling as if they’re lives are a burden to those around them. They can feel unwanted or that their existence has no purpose. Those feelings exponentially raise the risk of depression and an inward retreat.

There are so many ways to help seniors feel wanted, needed, and loved:

• Connect them with local volunteer opportunities to give their days more purpose.
• Get the extended family on board and calendar once-a-month video chats or phone calls so they feel more connected.
• Make a point to include them actively at holiday events so they don’t feel sidelined or ignored.
• Ask them for their opinions or for life advice; their wisdom and life experience are a significant resource and should be valued as such.
• Create family trees and photo albums together, involving them in the family memory preservation process.
• Share meals (research shows that seniors who eat with others tend to eat more than they do on their own, which helps them remain energized and healthy). 
• Ask for their help when you’re doing projects they could help out with, OR if you live long-distance, ask them to “keep you company” via video or speaker chat when you’re doing household tasks like folding laundry or organizing a closet.

There are many ways to help seniors feel like they still have a place in the world, which can make all the difference.

HomeAide Home Care Prevents Depression & Isolation For Bay Area Seniors

The caring team at HomeAide Home Care spends every day preventing social isolation and depression for our clients. From weekly and part-time companion, transportation, and errand-running services to overnight and live-in care, we meet clients where they’re at.

We work carefully to place our team of licensed caregivers with clients who share the same interests and hobbies, which adds another layer of caring support that allows seniors to live independently at home. We also find that hiring personal companions for loved ones in nursing homes or acute care facilities helps keep them more engaged and supported in their daily lives.

Contact us to schedule a free, in-home assessment or to learn more about how we can help.

Changes in speech are not uncommon as we age, one of which is called dysarthria. This is caused by weakening muscles that make it more challenging to get words out loud and clear enough for others to hear and understand. 

ATTENTION: If you notice an immediate or sudden change in your loved one’s speech (over the course of minutes, hours, or only a few days), contact 911 or take them to an urgent care center ASAP. This could be a sign of a stroke or TIA, and medical attention is essential to rule out anything life-threatening.

More often, though, changes in speech are directly connected to age-related changes that may be reversible with the right attention and support.

Symptoms Of Dysarthria

Dysarthria is a type of speech condition that leads to seniors having speech that is difficult to hear or unclear. This is different from aphasia or a loss of words related to dementia or other forms of cognitive decline. Adults with dysarthria occur due to weakening of the muscles associated with speaking. 

Symptoms of dysarthria are:

• Difficulty speaking up or producing clear, intelligible words.
• Having to speak in short bursts rather than full sentences
• Trouble moving your mouth, lips, or tongue.
• Slurred or slow speech.
• Changes in the voice (gravelly, monotone, straining, or difficulty varying vocal inflection).

Some of the most common causes of dysarthria are predictable, like those associated with previously diagnosed Parkinson’s, post-stroke recovery, late-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia, and other neurological diseases. 

However, the condition sometimes serves as a sign your senior loved one needs more support. Once you’ve identified the root cause, you can work toward a solution - which may include things like occupational or physical/speech therapy or support from in-home care providers who can help out with meals, exercise, social engagement, errand running, and so on.

Preventable & Supportable Causes It’s Hard For Seniors To Speak

Here are some of the other causes of dysarthria that can be prevented or supported/corrected with a well-rounded care plan.

Medication side effects

It’s not uncommon for adults 55 and over to have multiple prescriptions or supplements from more than one physician or specialist. This puts them at risk for contraindications (when medicines are a bad combination) missed by the medical team or pharmacists.

Scheduling regular consultations with the pharmacist (often the best one to catch these things) is an important part of medication management. A simple shift in doses or medication types may do the trick.

Lack of social engagements

Muscles naturally weaken as we age, but unless we’re experiencing a medical condition or nearing their end of life, speech shodramaticallyto a dramatic degree. That said, muscles that aren’t used enough grow weak. 

Dysarthria could be a sign that an aging adult isn’t as socially engaged as they should be. Ensuring they can get where they need to go, have a social life, and connect with family and friends in person, by phone, or by video helps to keep the speech muscles activated and strong.

Dehydration

Sometimes there is a very simple solution when seniors experience a more sudden onset of weakness, lethargy, seeming memory loss, or difficulty speaking: they need to drink more fluids. Our bodies become more sensitive to dehydration with age, especially with certain medications. 

Dehydration can lead to symptoms that mimic dementia, cause asymptomatic UTIs (urinary tract infections) that tank our immune system, or cause significant weakening of the muscles. Preventing dehydration is a simple step that has exponential benefits.

Malnutrition

We associate malnutrition with people in poverty, but seniors are one of the highest-risk populations in the United States. This is because it gets increasingly challenging to prepare and cook food, especially when you live by yourself. 

Ensuring seniors have access to fresh, healthy meals and snacks is essential so they can get the nourishment they need to maintain their strength, energy, balance, and health - as well as their ability to speak.

If your spouse, parent, or grandparent refuses to eat or claims they aren’t hungry, schedule an appointment with their physician. Sometimes, we have to acknowledge that a loved one’s lack of appetite is actually their end-of-life process. However, if it is more sudden or seems unrelated to their advanced age or known health conditions, it’s worth trying to uncover the why.

A general decline in strength 

Just as seniors who live alone are less likely to remain socially engaged or eat well daily, they also tend to become more sedentary. A decline in general strength and muscle mass can spread to the diaphragm, lungs, and the muscles which have to be strong to speak clearly.

And, of course, exercise is also a cornerstone of general health and well-being, helping to manage existing health conditions, maintain an active body, and improve our emotional and mental health. Speak to your loved one or their physician about the right exercise program to keep their muscles strong and active. This may be any combination of exercises, like walking, dancing, chair yoga, or taking a senior-specific class in the community.

Poor sleep habits

Being tired also slows down our speech and makes it harder to get the words out. This is even more true if someone experiences a snowball effect of the issues listed above. Everything from medications or physical discomfort to anxiety or a lack of mental/physical exercise can make it hard for seniors to fall asleep and stay asleep each night. 

Finding ways to help your parent or grandparent establish healthy sleep habits helps to support the whole spectrum of senior health and well-being.

HomeAide Home Care Helps Bay Area Families Age Safely & Independently At Home

Dysarthria can seem scary or like “the beginning of the end,” but that's not always the case. Working with experienced senior homecare providers is a reassuring way to learn more about what your loved one needs to age safely and independently at home and to minimize the risk of preventable conditions. 

Contact us to schedule a free in-home assessment with HomeAide Home Care. Our consultations take a personalized approach and require absolutely no obligation.