Ways to Help Seniors Stay Active This Winter

Do you feel that the winter blues are making your aging loved ones want to hibernate until the onset of the spring season? Is the reality of shorter, colder and darker days hitting hard on them and nothing seems to motivate them to just get out of the bed, let alone exercising in these cold winter days?

While it may seem pretty difficult to think of activities to keep your elderly loved one active this winter, but experts suggest many activities that can help keep them healthy all-year-round. Some of them are listed below:

• Dancing: One of the most enjoyable and beneficial forms of exercise is dancing since it keeps both the brain and the body healthy, without even requiring expensive equipment. Dancing helps in providing a great sense of achievement, improved flexibility and posture, and overall improved well-being.

• Swimming: Swimming is a low-impact activity that is tremendously good for your muscles and joints, especially if your loved ones are suffering from arthritis. Indulging in water activities are known to improve cholesterol levels in older adults, while at the same time increase their agility, flexibility, and strength. You can also motivate them to participate in water yoga, and water aerobics.

• Walking: The most natural form of exercise is taking some long-distance walks. As it may seem a little difficult to take outdoor walks during the icy and cold winter months, you can look for an indoor spot, such as an indoor walking track, mall, community center, etc.

Other activities like stretching at home and attending group activities are some other ways for seniors to stay active this winter. However, if you feel that your loved one will struggle getting out and about, consider getting in-home care services for them in East Bay, CA from Always Best Care. Their trained and experienced in-home caregivers can help your loved one stay active both physically and mentally fit through various activities.

To book your free care consultation, call @ (925) 210-0323!

Things to Keep In Mind When Choosing an Assisted Living Facility

Here are some things for you to keep in mind when choosing an assisted living facility for your loved one:

• Get online :- Use the Internet to educate yourself in the various different types of senior care facilities and to conduct your initial search for the most appropriate communities.
   
• Do your research :- However you choose to do it, the initial research is very important. Primarily it can help you gage whether assisted living is the most appropriate choice and it can give you a greater idea of exactly what to expect and what to look for.
   
• Always visit :- You should always visit any assisted living community that you are interested in. This allows you to evaluate the facility and determine whether residents are happy with what is provided.
   
• Plan ahead :- Most assisted living facilities will provide basic help with things like medication, general health care, and healthy living. Many will also be able to increase the level of care that is provided should the need arise but do check beforehand because it can prove very unsettling to have to move when physical or mental health demands it.
   
• Check the services being provided at the facility thoroughly :- Regardless of the type of facility or community you choose, whether it's an assisted facility or a continuing care retirement community, check the amenities and services that are provided. If you can't find a service listed then ask whether it is provided and how it is provided.

Always Best Care offers a multitude of in-home care services to support your loved one as they age in place and can also work with you on getting them into one of the best assisted living facilities in East Bay. Call Always Best Care today at (925) 210-0323 to schedule a free consultation and learn more.

How to Quit Smoking in Old Age

It is never easy to quit smoking, especially for the elderly who have probably been smoking their entire life. Given below are some tips to help older adults work towards stopping this habit. Take a look.

Carry a Snack:

The experts suggest that carrying a healthy snack like almonds, chewing gum, and hard candy at all times and munching it whenever seniors feel an urge to smoke is an effective start to quit smoking. These snacks can significantly reduce their chances for craving for a cigarette.

Go Slow:

It is a challenging task to quit smoking, therefore it is vital to take tiny steps.  Quitting smoking is more of a journey and it is vital to keep in mind that going without a cigarette is next to impossible during the initial days. What works the best is taking one cigarette at a time and then cutting back slowly.

Maintain Distance from Triggers:

Studies show that being around certain people who smoke can trigger one’s cravings for a cigarette. Also, seniors must avoid visiting places that induce their desire to smoke.

Encourage your elderly loved one to quit smoking and lead a healthy life. This may be challenging for them at first, but your constant support and love can definitely pull them through.

You can also consider getting geriatric care in East Bay , CA for your loved one from Always Best Care. It is one of the most trusted senior care organizations in CA since 1996 and has a number of seniors lead an independent and dignified life through their excellent in-home care services. To learn more about Always Best Care or their senior care solutions, feel free to reach out to them at (925) 210-0323. 

The Dangers of Living Alone for the Elderly

According to recent research, about 90% of people who have reached 65 years of age want to stay at home and are not willing to live in an assisted living. Although they can completely lead an independent life, there are still some physical and mental conditions that can be hazardous when living alone.

It is of utmost importance to ensure that the environment in which your loved ones are living is safe and is capable of meeting their immense needs. The best that works in such a situation is moving to an assisted living community, wherein their health is properly monitored, medication managed and social activities included.

If you too are struggling to make your elderly loved one understand the importance of assisted living, then here are some dangers involved in living alone that they need to know:

• The condition of the home like a cluttered and dirty house, loose carpets, steep stairs, and poor lighting affects the living conditions of your elderly because of difficulty in managing home.
• Difficulty in managing their medication schedule on their own
• Do they desire to interact with friends and family when loneliness strikes them often?
• They may begin acting differently and might face problems in managing daily household chores like maintaining food quantities in the house, paying electricity bills, etc, which shows that they are the early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
• Poor eyesight
• Changes in their social interactions, appearance and loved one's hygiene.
• Deteriorating health, recurring strokes, physical impairments, and the diseases like Parkinson's may require professional help and care.

It is time to watch for these signs and take a wise decision because it may be hard to admit but caring for your loved one becomes much easier when you have professional help by your side. If you too are looking for some professional help, whether it's in-home care or assisted living for your elder care assistance in Contra Costa County, then look no further than Always Best Care. We are the experts in elderly care and work dedicatedly in exceeding your expectations. Call us on (925) 210-0323 or visit our website https://www.alwaysbestcare.com/ca/walnut-creek/ for more information.

Tips for Successfully Communicating with an Alzheimer’s Patient

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease slowly diminishes a person's ability to communicate and they are often are found struggling with concepts and language. In situations like these, it becomes even more vital to learn the art of communicating with your elderly loved one effectively and lovingly. Patients with dementia require love hence; it requires a great amount of patience, and good listening skills to understand the person better.

With constant behavioral changes, it becomes vital to understand some tips that can help to have better communications. Some of these are:

• Alzheimer's or dementia patients require excessive care, and it becomes vital to deal them with compassion and patience for having a smooth communication. If you allow your loved one to take their time in answering or speaking or find them struggling with the language, and sentences; act calmly and observe their behavior. Listening patiently is the key!
• Not everything has to be spoken to understand well because about 93% communication is non-verbal. Smiling often can help to lighten your mood and at the same time reduce the stress that helps in bringing the patient and the caregiver closer.
• Dementia patients tend to live in their world, with time. Your friendship is important for your loved one in this difficult situation, hence adopting a calm attitude will work wonders for them. Avoid engaging in an argument, try asking open-ended questions to eliminate confusion.
• Maintain eye contact with the patient so that they remain focused upon what you're saying and try speaking slowly and clearly and avoid giving too many instructions at one time, as this may confuse them.

Always remember that communication doesn't stop if your loved one has been diagnosed with Dementia. Memory changes impact their communication abilities and your support and love are what can ease their life. If you too have an Alzheimer's patient and are facing difficulties to communicate with them effectively, then experts in senior care are surely there to rescue you. Always Best Care has expert caregivers for both in-home care and assisted living that work well to serve your needs. Contact Always Best Care for geriatric care in Contra Costa County at (925)210-0323.

A Guide to Caring for the Elderly

Your elderly loved ones require the same amount of care as your infants do. Remember that it is not easy for them to become completely dependent upon you or somebody else for meeting their everyday needs. Inability to work on their own often makes them temperamental, emotional and of course lonely. The elderly require the best level of care and therefore, it is important to become familiar with the ways of providing them with the best possible care.

• Visit them Often:

Ensuring the well-being of an aging loved one becomes even more important if they live on their own. Even if work keeps you away, the least you can do is visit them as frequently as possible. Having you by their side gives them the feeling of being in safe hands, healthy and doing well, in general. Absence of a human company makes them sad, thus social interaction with you can enlighten their day. Make sure you check on their overall well-being, like cleanliness, food supplies, plants and so on. Ask them about their problems, if any.

• Avail Public Welfare Benefits:

There are several government-run healthcare services for the elderly. Facilities like free health checkups, low-cost health checkups, regular doctor visits, and other policies not only help in keeping a regular track of their health but also your pocket.

• Keep them active:

It is advisable to encourage your elderly loved one to exercise regularly. The best way is to accompany them for walks, which not only keeps them healthy and refreshed but also serves as an opportunity for greater social interactions.  Also, it is vital to pay attention to their diet, and make sure that they take nutritious and healthy meals.

• Hire Help:

Your elderly loved one needs help with their daily errands, while they're aging. Everyday activities like cooking, grocery shopping, housekeeping, etc. become daunting for them, thus hiring a caregiver can be of great for them. You can always check for some references or consult a licensed agency for hiring a caregiver. But, remember to hire a certified and fully trained professional who can meet the particular care needs of your loved one. A reliable in-home caregiver would be able to assist your loved ones with all sorts of services, like shopping for essentials, laundry, doctor visits, and salon trips and more!

Take enough time to communicate with your loved ones and listen to their needs. Small efforts can go a long way. If you are looking for senior home care services in East Bay, you should turn to Always Best Care. It is well-recognized senior care agency that can provide you the most trusted caregivers at the comfort of your home.  For more information, call them at (925)210-0323.

Tips That Can Help You Take Better Care Of Your Loved One

Find Support – Early in your care giving journey it’s important that you find a support group filled with individuals in similar circumstances. Even a little support will prove to be valuable as your journey unfolds. You may find extra comfort in having a friend who has been down a similar road with their aging parent or spouse.

Know Your Limits – Everyone has limits. It’s important to identify your boundaries ahead of time, before you or your loved one suffers. A good place to start is identifying your physical limitations (do you need the help of in home care?) in caring for your aging loved one. If you get injured while caring for your aging loved one your life will become even more hectic.

Accept Help – Once you have identified your limits, it’s time to find help. If you know there are certain duties that would be better performed by a professional or even friend, facilitate getting help. Just because you are physically capable of completing all of these tasks does not mean that it’s healthy.

Involve Your Loved One in Making Decisions – As a caregiver; you may feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. When possible, involve your aging loved ones in decisions regarding their care, daily schedule and future. This will allow you to conserve your energy to focus on decisions only you can make while allowing your aging loved one to feel as though they are still in charge of their life.

Do Something Fun Every Day – Whether it’s going for a bike ride, long walk, taking a bubble bath, reading a book or having a cup of coffee on your front porch, it’s important that you do something you enjoy every day.

Always Best Care constantly works towards making home care in Contra Costa County accessible and affordable for all. You can know more about the services we offer by calling us on (925) 210-0323.