Tips for Helping Your Favorite Senior Stay in Great Health

Tips for Helping Your Favorite Senior Stay in Great Health

Sharing Your Home With A Senior Loved One? Here Are Three Ways To Make It Work

by Florence Morrison

If you have an aging parent or other loved one who's resistant to the idea of entering an assisted living facility but who can no longer safely live alone, you may be thinking of welcoming that person into your own home. At the same time, you probably have some understandable concerns, and you may have heard unhappy stories from others who haven't had good experiences with going this route. However, these living situations can be enriching for everyone involved with the right kind of planning, and there are community-based resources designed to take the burden off of family members. Following are just three of the many available resources.

Your Local Senior Center

Many senior citizens struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness, including those who live with their families. It's important for seniors to retain their own personal lives rather than being dependent on those they live with for social interactions, and this is where your local senior center can provide an invaluable service. 

Nearly all communities except for the very smallest have centrally located senior centers that offer a variety of activities and services, including arts and crafts classes, fitness programs, and congregate meals. They also provide a pleasant place where seniors can drop in for a cup of coffee or tea and play cards or simply sit and visit with their peers. Some senior centers even offer transportation for those unable or unwilling to drive. 

Your Local Senior Services Agency

Local senior service agencies operate under the umbrella of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. They typically provide a deeper level of services than senior centers. For instance, they offer Medicaid and Medicare counseling for those seeking information about healthcare insurance options, chronic disease and pain management workshops, and case management services or those requiring customized care plans. 

Your Local Home Care Service

Those who open up their homes to elderly relatives are sometimes left feeling overwhelmed if they're the main caregiver, and this can lead to bitterness over time. In worst-case scenarios, it causes so much resentment that family relationships become permanently damaged. You can circumvent this situation from occurring in your own life by hiring a home care service to come to the home at regularly scheduled times. Home healthcare aides provide assistance with a variety of routine daily tasks, such as bathing, grooming, and dressing. They also provide medication reminders, run personal errands, and do light cooking and housekeeping.     


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About Me

Tips for Helping Your Favorite Senior Stay in Great Health

I have a passion for seniors. When I was growing up, my granny was my best friend. She helped me with my homework every day after school and was always ready to lend an ear when I needed someone to talk to. As I grew older and my grandmother did as well, she developed dementia. My parents, siblings, and I all took turns visiting her home to give her the extra care she needed. I learned a lot during this experience and know there are others out there with elderly relatives they are already caring for or suspect may need some extra care. I decided to create a blog to share my senior care tips with anyone and everyone who needs the advice. Come back often for new posts!

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