Many older adults need to consume relatively higher amounts of protein than they did when they were younger. This is because of the stress on your body as you age, and a general loss of protein from muscles and internal organs that occurs. Combined with a tendency to become more sedentary, this puts you at risk of deteriorating muscles, compromised mobility, slower recovery from illness and the loss of independence.
Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady who started the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, famously stated that there are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will become caregivers and those who will need caregivers.
Research has shown that feeling lonely seriously impacts physical and mental health. For this reason alone, hiring home care services for seniors may be worthwhile. Caregivers can serve not only as personal care assistants, but also as companions or “senior helpers” for that much-needed human interaction, and partners for errands and in-home activities.
Some people will never need LTC, some will only need it for a short period of time and others will require elderly assistance for many years. Some people will be able to live at home with small amounts of senior care while others may need memory care services.
Alzheimer’s disease is called a family disease, because the chronic stress of watching a loved one slowly decline affects everyone. An effective treatment will address the needs of the entire family.