The Growing Trend of Elder Orphans and How to Best Prepare for the Future Growing older presents a variety of new challenges: chronic health conditions, loss of family and friends, and increased frailty. For many of us, with these changes comes an increasing dependence on family members, particularly our adult children, whom we naturally expect to care for us when we have a need in our later years. But what happens when aging adults find themselves without family support? These “elder orphans” have additional concerns that result in not having built-in support. Although the exact number of aging adults with no family support is unknown, we do know from the 2016 Canadian census that 33% of seniors aged 65 and older are women who live alone, and 17.5% of men live alone. While many of these seniors have family support, some are considered to be “elder orphans.” With the explosion of aging baby boomers, a solution to this crisis needs to be put in place. Seniors who fall into this category are encouraged to take the following steps to plan ahead for their…
Family Counseling Can Help Relieve Caregiver Stress There are specific milestones we might experience in our lives that, though not necessarily negative, are known stressors. Losing a job. Starting a new job. Getting married. Getting divorced. And one that individuals in the home care industry are particularly mindful of: caregiver stress as a result of caring for aging parents. So many conflicting emotions arise for those in the role of family caregiver, and these are exacerbated when trying to share tasks with siblings or other family members. There are past resentments and hurts that may surface, conflicts pertaining to decision-making, and the stress of navigating what feels like a role reversal with a parent who once provided for us. For these reasons and many more, family counseling may be an excellent addition to a family caregiver’s toolbox to guarantee the very best possible care for senior parents, in addition to his or her own physical and mental wellbeing. Listed here are several benefits of family counseling as parents get…
Caring for Aging Parents from a Distance: How to Assess Mental Health Needs The isolation and fear as a result of COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the wellbeing of the elderly, with nearly half of seniors surveyed in a Kaiser Family Foundation poll stating that their degree of stress and worry was negatively affecting their health. And even though it still may be hazardous to visit in person with older adults, it’s imperative to remain in regular and frequent contact, and also to look for any changes or signs that may signify a mental health concern when caring for aging parents from a distance. As stated by psychiatrist Judith Feld, MD, MPH, “If a senior usually really enjoys a call with a grandchild, for example, but that seems to have changed, maybe you need to ask more questions, such as, ‘How can we be of help?’” Additional symptoms and signs of depression to watch for include sleeping issues, loss of appetite, lethargy, and complaints about pain, which interestingly, can be one of the main signs of depression in seniors. Be aware of anything that…
How to Handle Shadowing in Dementia: Overcome the Fear of Being Alone If you are a primary caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's disease, you may be interested in how to handle shadowing in dementia, as it is frequently an all too familiar experience that occurs whenever you’re trying to take a quiet minute or two alone – to use the bathroom, get a quick shower, and even walk into another room. Those diagnosed with Alzheimer's can experience enhanced fear when a family member is out of sight. And the resulting behaviors can be extremely hard to manage: crying, anger and meanness, or continuously asking where you are. It can help to understand the reasoning behind shadowing. You are the older adult's safe place, the one who tends to make sense of a disorienting and confusing world, and when you’re absent, life can seem frightening and uncertain. And recognize that shadowing isn’t a result of anything you have done, it is merely a typical aspect of the advancement of Alzheimer's disease. Our Windsor-Essex dementia care team provides…
Is It Dementia or Just Senior Forgetfulness? You altogether forgot about the doctor’s appointment scheduled for last Tuesday, misplaced your reading glasses for the umpteenth time, and cannot remember the name of your new neighbor for the life of you. Is all of this simply a typical part of aging, or could it be the start of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia? The worry about developing dementia is not unusual, and it’s increasing, as Alzheimer's has garnered more awareness with more than half a million Canadians living with dementia today. The prevalence of the disease contributes to anxieties about our own possible decrease in independence and functionality, as well as memory difficulties. In addition, it brings up questions regarding future care and living arrangements, if the time should come that help is needed to stay safe and to take care of everyday needs. However, it’s important to know there are multiple causes of senior forgetfulness, which are completely unconnected to dementia, and some amount…
Provide the Best Dementia Care by Creating a Calming Environment Agitation is amongst the more challenging effects of dementia, and can be extremely hard for family members to handle. The key is in taking steps to deal with agitation before it is felt and conveyed by the senior, which involves keeping track of what has initiated these feelings in the past, and establishing a home environment where those triggers are eliminated or reduced. These guidelines from our Windsor-Essex dementia care team can help: Designate a place of retreat. When life begins to get stressful, having a specially created spot for the senior to go to de-stress can work wonders in restoring calm. This might be a specific room, or perhaps a comfy corner with several soothing activities readily available, quiet music, a soothing scent to enjoy like lavender or vanilla – whatever offers peace and relaxation for the older adult. Assess the house for distressing objects. Focus on exactly what your senior loved one is sensitive to, such as specific decorations, mirrors (which…
