How to Help Your Senior Loved One Deal with Insomnia

As people age, it is common for them to experience a change in their sleeping pattern. Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder that affects many seniors. According to the recent studies, around 50% of people aged 65 and above suffer from insomnia.

There are a number of things that can cause insomnia in seniors, and some of them include 

• Heath conditions like heart problems, asthma, or chronic pain.
• Noisy bedrooms 
• Side effects of different medications
• Stress
• Anxiety
• …and more.

Some of the common symptoms of insomnia include 

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Day/night confusion
• Lack of quality sleep
• …and more.

However, it is vital for seniors to get a good night’s sleep for their overall health. So, if you have an aging parent at home who is suffering from insomnia, here are some tips that can help.

1. Create a fixed bedtime routine – It is important for you to create a bedtime routine for your aging loved one and ensure that they follow it religiously. Following a set routine can help improve sleep patterns and regulate their wake and sleep cycle. 
2. Create a comfortable sleeping environment – Make sure your senior family member has a bedroom that is clean, quiet and free from any kind of distractions. Also, the temperature of the room should also be comfortable. 
3.  Avoid frequent naps – Naps during the day can affect sleep quality. So, make sure your aging loved one avoids naps for a good night’s sleep. If they must nap, have them limit it to no more than 15 or 20 minutes.

However, if they still experience problems with sleep, consult their doctor. Their doctor may prescribe certain medications for a brief time that can help your loved one sleep better. Sometimes you just need a good night sleep to get a good night sleep the following night. If you have are unable to accompany your senior family member to their doctor’s appointment, consider hiring a caregiver.

An experienced in-home care provider will accompany seniors for regular doctor’s appointments and ensure they take the prescribed medicines on time. Always Best Care has a team of highly trained, bonded, and insured caregivers who provide compassionate In-Home Care Services In West Vancouver.

For more information, call them at (778) 945-3010.

Tips to Help Your Aging Parent Cope with Stress

As people age, they are likely to deal with a number of stressors related to financial issues, health problems, daily living, and more. Daily stress and depression can have a negative effect on your aging loved one’s overall health. It can increase the risk of certain health problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems, and more. Sadly, stress hormones can have a negative impact on your loved one’s mental health, too. 

Some of the common symptoms of stress include  

•  Anxiety
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability 
• Headaches
• Trouble concentrating 
• …and more.

Do you know how you can help your loved one cope with stress? Here are some tips that can help

1. Change their routine – Older adults who are homebound are at a higher risk of suffering from stress, depression, and other mental health problems. So, encourage them to get out of the house often or take up a hobby that they love. 
2. Try meditating – Meditation has a number of health benefits. It relaxes the mind, provides stress relief, and helps prevents future stress. Your loved one can practice meditation daily to deal with their stress better. 
3. Encourage socialization – Seniors who live alone are likely to suffer from stress and depression. So, you should encourage your aging parent to socialize often and participate in different social activities to stay connected and engaged. Staying socially active will not only reduce the risk of stress caused by loneliness and depression but also help seniors lead a peaceful and comfortable life. 
4. Hire a companion – If you do not have enough time to consistently look after your aging parent’s safety and well-being, consider hiring companionship help in the form of a caregiver. An experienced in-home care provider will look after your loved one’s care and safety and help them stay socially active and engaged. 

If you are looking for an In-Home Senior Care Provider In Vancouver, contact Always Best Care. 

For more information, call them at (778) 945-3010.

Reasons for Loneliness in Seniors

Loneliness is a negative feeling or sadness that arises due to lack of communication or a relationship with other people. Although it can affect anyone of any age group, the older you are, the more vulnerable to feeling lonely. Some main reasons of loneliness in older adults are described below:

• Bereavement 

Death of a spouse becomes the major cause for chronic loneliness in seniors. Similar feeling of loneliness can arise if an older person gets separated from their partner for any reason.      

• Retirement from work 

When seniors retire from working, they often miss their colleagues and daily routine. There is no office friend whom they can talk to or gossip with. There is no set schedule they have or meetings they need to attend.

• Health problems 

Health problems like arthritis and dementia make it difficult for older adults to socialize with others. They are often confined to their house and only go out when it is important or necessary.

• No friends and companions 

In old age, people start losing their friends. Sometimes, their friends are living far away or a residential care homes in another city, sometimes they simply lose touch. Due to lack of convenience transportation and health issues, they are unable to meet them. Their friends may even pass away from old age themselves.    

• Lack of transportation  

Older adults may not be able to drive due to health problems. Therefore, they often rely on others to pick them up and drop them off at their friends’ or relative’s house. Sometimes, they hesitate to ask their family as they do not want to be a bother and just stay at home. As a result, they are not able to socialize as much as they should and feel lonely.

If you have a senior family member, always make sure to share some quality time with them. However, if you feel that they need more care than they are receiving, contact Always Best Care for help. They are a noted senior care agency known for providing quality Home Care Services In West Vancouver and the surrounding areas. For more information, feel free to call them at (778) 945-3010.

Some Major Issues of Old Age

A person goes through various pleasant and unpleasant situations from childhood through old age in his/her life. But, old age is that phase of life in which one must face unexpected physiological, psychological and emotional challenges and it becomes really difficult to avoid these situations. Some of the major problems that seniors face are listed below.

1. Physiological Issues

After turning 60 years old, and even before depending on the individual, the human body begins to decline. The physical brain, senses, limbs and other internal parts of the body start functioning more slowly. Various sources over the years have affected the body, such as lifestyle, hereditary tendencies, and the environment. Some of the major causes for physical decline are malnutrition, intoxication, workload, poor diet, inadequate rest, emotional stress, health issues, and fluctuating environmental conditions.

2. Psychological Issues

Mental disorders are very common in this age. While it’s not predetermined for everyone, older people often face two major types of psychotic disorders: senile dementia (related to cerebral atrophy and degeneration) and psychosis with cerebral arteriosclerosis (related to blocking and ruptures in the cerebral arteries). According to a research, these two types of disorders are responsible for around 80% of psychotic disorders among the older generation in the civilized societies.

3. Emotional Problems

When the mental ability of seniors declines, they often become dependent on their family. Sometimes, negligence of family members results in emotional insecurity in them. Instead of developing a compassionate attitude for these old persons when youngsters start asserting their own rights, seniors often feel deprived of their dignity and importance. In addition, death of the spouse or very close family member also leads to a feeling of isolation or loneliness in them.                        

4. Social Issues

The social life of an older person does not remain as rich and exciting as they age. Poor health, loss of a loved one, and more are some of the reasons for their disconnection with society. They often become or feel confined in their homes and their interpersonal relationships remain limited to their family members only. This creates the problem of isolation and loneliness, which further leads to depression in them.                  

    

Keeping in mind all the above, it becomes crucial to take care of your senior family members and give them the love, care, and respect they both need and want. 

However, if you need help regarding senior care, contact Always Best Care. They are one of the most trusted Home Health Care Providers In Vancouver and have a team of highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers. To find out more, call at (778) 945-3010.

Eye Health Tips for Older Adults

As everyone gets older, many changes occur in the vision. Some common age-related vision problems that seniors often face include:

• Presbyopia: It causes trouble reading small words, headaches, eye strain and more.
• Cataracts: Causes blurry eyes, dim vision, night blindness, sensitivity to light and glare.
• Dry eyes: The risk factors of dry eyes include: certain medications, contact lenses, allergies, and certain environmental conditions.
•  …and many more.

Here are a few tips for seniors to avoid eye problems:

1.  Eat healthy: Healthy eating habits can help you take care of your vision. Foods that are rich in zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and vitamin A, help defend against certain age-related eye problems. To avoid such diseases or issues, include these in your diet:

• Salmon, tuna, and other fatty fish  
• Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and many more.
• Eggs, beans, and other non-meat protein rich sources
• Oranges and other citrus fruits
• and several other vitamin and mineral rich foods.  

2.  Quit smoking: Smoking severely damages your optic nerve and makes you more likely to develop macular degeneration. It’s not too late to quit smoking. Consult your doctor if you need help. 

3.  Avoid using mobile phones or computers for long periods of time: Staring at computer or mobile phone’s screen can cause eye strain, dry eyes, headaches and many more problems. 

4.  Visit your doctor frequently for a proper eye screening: Eye screenings can help find diseases, such as glaucoma, that have no signs at the start. It’s important to treat them as early as possible because they worsen with time.

If you are unable to manage your eye health and need some assistance, get in touch with Always Best Care. They are a senior care firm that has been providing the best Assisted living, as well as In Home Care Services, In Vancouver since 1996. For more information, call them today at (778) 945-3010.

Alzheimer’s in Older Adults – Early Signs, Causes, and Prevention

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia that causes problems with cognitive thinking, language, behavior, and memory.

Early signs of Alzheimer’s include: memory loss, difficulty with perception, difficulty in carrying out complex tasks, changes in walking patterns, sleep disturbances, personality changes, excessive grief, depression, and many more.

Here are some of what is believed to lead to a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s:

• Consumption of too much alcohol
• Smoking
• Higher levels of bad cholesterol, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases
• Increased levels of blood sugar
• Stress, loneliness, isolation, and over thinking
• Head injuries
• Side effects of certain medications
• Obesity
   Family history
• …and many more.

How to prevent or slow down the development of Alzheimer’s?

There’s no proven way to prevent Alzheimer’s, but is much that you can do to reduce the risk of developing it. Here are few tips to follow:

1.  Manage conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease. Many people are unaware of such conditions, even when they are suffering from them because they may not show many symptoms, especially at first. Regular health screenings can help let you find out if you have or are at risk of such conditions.
2. Eating a heart-healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy can also help. Avoid foods such as smoked meat, white foods such as cake, pasta, white rice, white sugar, and other foods with little nutritional value.
3. Stay active, physically as well as mentally. To keep your mind active, perform stimulating activities such as playing chess, learning a new language, or solving crossword puzzles and word pictures. Anything that causes you to think and consider multiple possibilities will help.
4. Keep yourself socially engaged as it will help avoiding loneliness, plus it further reduces stress.

If you need any help regarding Alzheimer’s or other related issues, contact Always Best Care. They are a senior care firm providing the best Home Care Services In North Vancouver. For more information, call them today at (778) 945-3010.

Exercises for Seniors Suffering from Arthritis

Staying active is important for everyone, but it becomes a necessity as you grow older. For seniors suffering from Arthritis, getting the right amount of exercise can be extremely beneficial.

Arthritis can limit a person’s mobility and cause joint pain, which makes exercising difficult for many seniors. Fortunately, there are many low-impact exercises that are helpful in which seniors with Arthritis can practice with relative ease. These include:

1. Walking- This is the easiest exercise and offers several benefits. It improves blood circulation, lowers high blood pressure, helps you maintains a healthy weight, improves sleep, slows mental decline and offers many other benefits. It’s okay to start with a 5 or 10-minute daily walk and increase the time and distance slowly according to your comfort.
2. Pilates- Pilates help increase strength and flexibility of your joints, which helps maintain balance. It also helps improves your breathing, resulting into a better, stronger and improved respiratory system.
3. Aerobics- Seniors should engage into regular aerobic exercises, such as swimming, cycling, dancing, even doing the household chores, that get their heart beating. Such exercises help build stamina, reduces the risk for osteoporosis, improves heart health and provides numerous other benefits.
4. Light weightlifting - Strengthening the body is the best way for reducing inflammation and uneasiness.Make sure you start light and then gradually increase the weight.
5. Hand stretches- Seniors with pain in their fingers and hands should practice this exercise regularly.Spread your fingers as wide as you can, then draw them together in a fist, and repeat this motion several times.
6. Yoga – Yoga can be very beneficial for seniors suffering from arthritis as it helps improve flexibility, stability and even helps improve mobility, which is what is often the most affected in arthritis.

If you need help regarding senior care, contact Always Best Care. They’re a senior care firm that has been providing the best assisted living as well as Home Care Services In West Vancouver since 1996.For more information about their care services, call them today at (778) 945-3010.