“I get by with a little help from my friends” is not just a famous lyric from the Beatles! It also describes the boost that some seniors need in order to retain their quality of life when their body or mind isn’t fully cooperating. If your elderly parent or loved one is showing a few signs of struggle with shopping or cooking and mostly needs a companion as opposed to a caregiver, a part-time personal assistant can be the perfect fit.
What would New Year’s be without a resolution or two? People of all ages can make and complete New Year’s resolutions. Seniors and caregivers can team up to support one another. Or, if a senior has a professional home care provider, that caregiver can help the elder to carry through the resolution.
A study at Harvard University followed hundreds of people for 75 years and loneliness was the single greatest single predictor of physical health, longevity, and quality of life.
It is important to remember that weather can play a big role in how a senior socializes. Plan ahead with your family to assure your senior family member avoids social isolation in the winter months.
Often, bringing up the person’s memory and spending a few minutes discussing pleasant memories can benefit the senior.
While most of us have been taught to “never tell a lie,” especially to our parents, this advice may be counterproductive when caring for someone who suffers from moderate dementia.
