9 Independent Living Skills for Seniors

Passions Grow, Passions Bloom: Cultivating Wellness at Willow Valley Communities Among the most popular passions at Willow Valley Communities is gardening. And, Residents here have a wide variety of ways to indulge. Three generous gardens are situated across our sprawling 210-acre campus for Residents to use in a multitude of configurations of their choosing. Willow Valley Communities hardworking Grounds Team tills each garden in the spring and plows them in the fall, making them ready for Residents to dig right in. Whether Residents are experienced pros or novices, gardening is a wonderful way for them to get outside, enjoy nature and each other, and learn new things. Some Residents have been gardening for decades, while others have only started gardening after moving to Willow Valley Communities. In keeping with our Life Lived Forward philosophy, some Willow Valley Communities Residents take their love of gardening to deeper levels. For example, several Residents from across the country have achieved the distinction of Master Gardener. Master Gardeners are certified in their home state, and the program can take six months to a year to complete and includes a minimum of 40 hours of classroom training, a score of 80 percent on the final exam, and 50 hours of volunteer service. In another example, Residents Annabelle Simpson and Susan Kelly worked with the Penn State Extension of the Pennsylvania State University to have one of their gardens certified as an official Pennsylvania Pollinator-Friendly Garden. The stunning garden is well-known for attracting huge numbers of bees, butterflies, insects, and birds, helping our ecosystem to thrive. Residents are also able to partner their gardening skills with their desire to volunteer and give back to the Lancaster community. With the areas rich, fertile soil, and the extra special care and attention the plants receive, Residents often have an abundance of vegetables and donate them regularly. Throughout the growing season, the Solanco Neighborhood Ministries food bank receives a variety of beans, lettuce, kale, peas, carrots, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and much more from Willow Valley Communities Resident gardens. Additionally, every fall, a harvest of hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes and butternut squash goes to the Lancaster County Food Hub, a community resource for free, nutritious food and gently used clothing. Some Residents maintain gardening plots every year just for this purpose.Annabelle Simpson and Susan Kelly Gardening time is couple time for Residents Mike and Susan Ziegler. Sue is an avid gardener, and Mike loves being outdoors supporting her gardening passion at Willow Valley Communities. They both love being together in nature, and Sue is amazed by how magical gardening can be. Its just a miracle when the seeds come up, she says. Resident Pat Mortensen challenges herself every year by growing something completely different. Once she enjoyed a robust harvest of King Tut Purple Peas, a very rare garden pea said to have been taken out of the tomb of King Tut! Resident and Master Gardener Angela Booker-White is originally from Virginia but has lived all over the country. Her interest in gardening grew as she read and learned more about it. In her plot at Spring Run, Angela grows all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and flowers and always tries something new. She has the most success with seeds she purchases from the dollar store! Angela has also learned how gardening can help during challenging times. She is grateful to her garden, as well as to her fellow Willow Valley Communities gardeners, for helping her during the difficult time of her husbands unexpected passing. Gardeners, and she doesnt know exactly who, would come and help by doing extra work around her plot. Residents just came in and helped, Angela says. Weeding, cutting, trimming, harvesting whatever work needed to be done. Thats the way Residents are here at Willow Valley Communities: very supportive. Resident Keith Yoder, who coordinates the Spring Run Garden, is not at all surprised by the variety of gardeners at Willow Valley Communities or by the reasons they enjoy the activity so much. He agrees that gardening is definitely a hobby that enhances well-being. Though hes known this himself for years, he refers to an article put out by CNBC that states how gardening can add years to your life. And life to your years, Keith adds. Gardening gets you into nature. Its good exercise for your body and your mind plus, you get to eat what you grow!

The Willow Valley Communities Day Spa is a destination for wellness and renewal. Its a critical component of the comprehensive Mind, Body, Spirit approach to wellness of Willow Valley Communities. The Day Spa offers many ways to soothe, calm, invigorate, or rejuvenate. A full range of professional services, all performed by our attentive and inviting staff, allows Residents to create their own regimen for personal well-being and beauty. These services include manicures and pedicures, skin care, facials, revitalizing peels, waxing, tanning, microdermabrasion, and body treatments with a wide range of different massage modalities, wraps, and scrubs. The Relaxation Room, with its beautiful waterfall and Himalayan Salt Wall, is a main feature of The Day Spa. It provides a peaceful and well-appointed environment in which to relax and offers a perfect and welcome respite between services. Himalayan salt rich in negative ions and essential nutrients and minerals offers numerous health benefits for our bodies, such as stress reduction, energy increases, and mood boosts at a biochemical level. Day Spa Manager Diamando Wallace says, Self-care is essential. Although manicures and pedicures are a well-deserved treat, they offer so much more to Residents sense of well-being. You can see the boost in a clients self-confidence as they walk out feeling refreshed.  Massages are one of the most popular services requested by Residents, and The Day Spa offers a wide menu of options, including hot stone and aromatherapy. Emily Ransing, Willow Valley Communities Day Spa Massage Therapist, says, Massage is meant to enhance your well-being physically and mentally. I frequently remind my clients that this is their time to focus on themselves to feel healthier. I do all I can to send each client home feeling better than when they arrived. A Willow Valley Communities Resident was asked about her massage as she was leaving The Day Spa one afternoon. She said, After a massage with Emily, your body is so relaxed that you can focus on the things that you often overlook the air is sweeter, the birds are more melodious, the day is brighter. You are better equipped to face the next days, whatever they may bring. As she walked out of the Cultural Center to her car, she added with a smile, Its also a way to take the tension out of your body although theres not much tension at Willow Valley Communities!

Even though you know its coming, the role reversal that comes with caring for aging parents can catch you by surprise. For many, this switch happens when we notice a loved one is starting to struggle with hygiene or personal care.Its not easy to know how to talk to your aging parents about their hygiene, or how to offer your support while still respecting their dignity. Understanding why personal care can be a challenge for some seniors, along with actionable steps you can take to support your loved one's hygiene, can help you handle this sensitive situation with confidence and compassion.Why Do Seniors Struggle with Personal Care?Activities of daily living (ADLs)the basic self-care tasks we perform regularly to stay healthy, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toiletingcan be challenging for seniors who have limited mobility, memory loss, or other health conditions associated with aging.Understanding why your older loved one may be struggling can help you approach the topic with more empathy and less frustration. Common challenges include: Physical Limitations: Conditions such as arthritis, reduced mobility, balance issues, and chronic pain may make ADLs difficult or unsafe. Cognitive Decline: Problems with cognition, including dementia and Alzheimers disease, can affect a seniors awareness of hygiene needs. Depression or Social Withdrawal: Loss of motivation for self-care is a common symptom of depression. Fear of Falling: Seniors sometimes avoid bathing or showering because of legitimate safety concerns, such as fall-related injuries. Sensory Changes: Our sense of smell diminishes as we age, so seniors may not notice body odor or other biological reminders that they need to take care of their hygiene. Talking with Seniors About Hygiene & Personal CareTiming, tone, and framing of the conversation all matter when deciding how to talk to someone about hygiene. Now is not the time to rush into a conversation that may come off as a confrontation. Think carefully about how you want to proceed. After all, the goal is to open a door, not win an argument.Before the ConversationAs you prepare for your conversation with your elderly parent, dont just consider how to talk to your loved one about hygiene, but also when and where. Avoid bringing up the topic during or after a stressful or draining event. Instead, choose a calm, quiet moment when you know your loved one is likely to be alert and open to hearing you.Focus on leading with care and concern rather than criticism. For example, you might say, I want to make sure you feel comfortable and well instead of Ive noticed you havent been showering. This allows them to see you as genuinely interested in their well-being, rather than trying to offend them or take away their independence.In some cases, it can help to ask a doctor or trusted friend to introduce the topic first. They may be able to lend credibility to your concerns.During the ConversationAs you talk with your senior parent, use I statements that express your concern for their well-being. For example, instead of saying, You never keep up with hygiene anymore (which can suggest blame or shame), position it as your worry: I want to make sure you have what you need to feel clean and comfortable every day.Avoid using elderspeak, and be respectful. Acknowledge your loved ones desire for independence, and involve them in the solution by asking what would make it easier for them. Giving them the ability to be a part of the solution can help them feel less defensive.Remember to take their concerns seriously, particularly regarding privacy. Many seniors resist help with bathing or toileting out of embarrassment, and these feelings deserve to be addressed and validated. The role reversal that often comes with aging is not just difficult for you; it can be embarrassing for them to accept the change as well.Most importantly, don't make threats. Stay positive and emphasize the connection between hygiene and goals they care about. For example, you might say, I want you to feel confident when the grandkids visit or I know staying in your home matters to you, and good hygiene helps make that possible. Framing it around their prioritiescomfort, independence, family timecenters the conversation on offering support rather than pressure.Routines & Practical Strategies to Support Senior Hygiene at HomeOnce you've had the opportunity to talk about your concerns, work with your senior parent to build practical strategies into their routine. This can make staying on top of hygiene easier and more sustainable for both of you.Bathing & GroomingThe first step for many family caregivers in making bathing safer for seniors is adding fall-preventing features. These simple upgrades can include grab bars, a shower bench, and a handheld showerhead and can go a long way in helping your loved one maintain their dignity and independence.A consistent bath schedule can also be helpful. Many people find comfort in a routine. You can set the schedule according to when your parent typically has the most energy. For days when your loved one doesn't have the energy for a full shower, keep no-rinse bathing products on hand, and walk your loved one through how to use them for freshening up.If hair care is a struggle, it might be time to turn hair appointments or manicures into a regular habit. In-home hair care may be an option if getting to the salon or barbershop is a challenge.Oral HygieneOral hygiene for seniors often slips through the crackswith potentially serious consequences. Poor oral hygiene is linked to aspiration pneumonia (a leading cause of hospitalization) and cardiovascular disease. It can also make diabetes harder to control.Providing your older loved one with an easy-to-manage electric toothbrush and scheduling regular trips to the dentist can help you stop dental problems before they start.If your elderly parent has dentures, remind them to rinse their dentures after eating when possible, and to brush dentures and their own teeth/gums with a soft brush daily. Soaking dentures overnight with a mild soaking solution will also help them stay fresh.Skin CareSeniors skin becomes more fragile naturally during the aging process. It can be prone to issues like dryness, breakdown, and infection. This means moisturizing and checking skin for damage should be part of your loved ones daily care routine.Family caregivers should watch for rashes, cracks, and other sores, and seek medical attention if theres any suspicion the skin is infected or doesn't seem to be healing properly.An easy way to broach this subject is to ask your senior parent if they have enough towels and supplies and can reach the sink easily to wash their face and hands regularly. If it feels like it would be well-accepted, gift them with moisturizing face wipes or lightly scented soap designed for sensitive skin to make a skin care routine more enjoyable and refreshing.When to Consider In-Home Personal Care ServicesFamily caregivers often feel compelled to take on an aging parents personal care tasks themselves. This can be physically and emotionally exhausting for everyone involvedand potentially uncomfortable for your loved one.If you notice any of the following signs, professional in-home personal care may be the right next step: Your loved one resists hygiene help from family members but may accept it from a trained, professional caregiver. Hygiene needs have become a safety issue (e.g., fall risk in the bathroom, development of skin conditions, inability to trim their toenails, etc.). You or other family caregivers are experiencing burnout, or the personal care dynamic is straining the family relationship. Your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or another condition affecting their ability to manage ADLs independently. Frequently Asked Questions About Senior HygieneWhat happens if a senior doesnt bathe or shower regularly?Not bathing or showering regularly can increase an elderly persons risk of potentially serious health problems. These include skin infections, fungal rashes, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). It can also cause body odor and an unkempt appearance, which may lead to social isolation and, in turn, bring on loneliness or depression.How often should a senior wash their hair?In general, seniors should wash their hair once or twice a week. As we get older, the scalp produces less sebum (i.e., the waxy substance that moisturizes hair and skin), so hair becomes drier. This means hair can be washed less frequently with old age.Dry shampoo and waterless, no-rinse shampoo can be helpful for keeping the hair and scalp clean and odor-free between washes, or even as a substitute for washing on days when showering cant be managed.Why do older people stop bathing or taking care of themselves?There are many reasons why a senior might neglect their personal care or hygiene. They may be facing physical challenges like loss of mobility or cognitive decline. Mental health issues like depression or anxiety about falling are also common reasons some seniors stop bathing or taking care of themselves.How BrightStar Care Supports Seniors' Dignity with Personal Care ServicesHelping an aging loved one with personal care is ultimately about preserving their dignity and quality of life. Its a physically and emotionally taxing job, but you don't have to go it alone.BrightStar Care offers in-home personal care services that can help your senior parent age comfortably in place. Our compassionate caregivers are experienced in assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, grooming, toileting, eating, and other personal care needs while allowing for as much independence and privacy as possible.