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Did you know September is National Senior Center Month?
Senior benefits centers are often overlooked as a vital source of support for
our older loved ones. Here’s what you should know.
1. How to Find a Senior Center
As of 2024, there are an estimated 11,000 senior centers in
the U.S., serving roughly 1 million older adults every day. In contrast, there
are roughly 58 million Americans over the age of 65, meaning that many are
neglecting the benefits of the services available at these centers.
One of the biggest reasons these centers are underutilized
is because not everyone knows how easy they are to find. A simple Google search
for “senior centers near me,” can redirect you to your town’s office of aging
and disabled services, or you can also visit the website for your local Area
Agency on Aging. Both resources can provide you with plenty of options and
information about the senior centers nearest to you.
2. A Senior Center is a Community Hub
Senior centers not only provide older adults with a
community hub to interact with other people of the same age, but they also
provide productive outlets to keep our older loved ones engaged. From fitness
classes and health screenings to organized social events and parties, a senior
center can provide a lifestyle similar to what you’d find at an upscale country
club.
3. Senior Centers Combat Isolation
One of the biggest risks to older adults is isolation.
Isolation can expedite the aging process and is a leading factor behind
depression in older adults. Senior centers offer the perfect social outlet to
avoid these threats by providing older adults with a wealth of group-centric
entertainment options to choose from.
4. Senior Centers Promote Health & Wellness
Many of these group activities are centered around fitness
and health. From group yoga to swim classes to readily available health
screenings, there is no shortage of options to choose from for a person to stay
in shape at a senior center.
5. Senior Centers Provide Support and Services
Senior centers can also handle many day-to-day needs for
older adults that they may not feel comfortable doing on their own. Some
centers come with in-house nutritional programs and meal prep to keep diets
balanced, while others also provide transportation assistance and direct access
to other nearby social services. The ultimate goal of these senior centers is
to provide the everyday assistance that an older adult may need in order to
continue living independently.
SYNERGY HomeCare offers many services that complement those
found at a typical senior benefits center. Both outlets are designed to provide
much-needed respite for everyday caregivers, meaning your local SYNERGY
HomeCare office likely has a close working relationship with nearby senior
benefits centers.
If you want to tap into SYNERGY HomeCare’s professional
in-home caregiving services, visit our website here, or call (877) 432-2692.
Conversely, if you need information or guidance on how to get your older loved
one some out-of-home help, the professionals at your nearest SYNERGY HomeCare
location are happy to point you in the right direction.
If you have any questions, please call us at 720-204-5788.
Dignity Care is a homegrown business in Boulder.In the 1990s, Mary Kirk, a registered dietitian, began caregiving for family and relatives. Her husband, Ged, offered a companion travel service for the elderly and disabled. Together they established Dignity Care, LLC in 1997 as a home care business with just two caregivers and a home office.As demand for home care service increased, Mary recruited additional caregivers, but always with an emphasis on the compassionate, respectful, personalized care that was Dignity Cares trademark. Mary created her own approach to senior home care, unique in this area.With this dedication and passion to provide the best caregivers in the Boulder County region, Dignity Care has continued to grow and in 2009 became licensed as a Class A home care provider. We specialize in using Certified Nursing Assistants on our teams so we can bring you the skill and experience you deserve, if you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
Too many seniors grapple with isolation and depression, but these are not a normal part of growing older. They are treatable medical illnesses, much like heart disease or diabetes. Depression is a serious illness affecting approximately 15 out of every 100 adults over age 65 in the United States.Seniors experiencing feelings of depression and isolation have a higher risk of hospital admissions, as well as a higher risk for being scammed. Not to mention it makes for a miserable life.So, what can you do? Helping seniors stay healthy means more than ensuring they get good physical care. Individuals living alone miss out on the stimulation of interactions with others on a regular basis. Our caregivers serve that dual purpose of providing physical care and social connection. We enjoy our clients, building a relationship with them, and sharing the highs and lows of their days. Caregivers can laugh with their clients and be an empathetic ear. We make sure our clients are getting out of the house and attending events and activities that interest them.Hiring a caregiver to help out, even for a couple of hours each week, brings conversation and spark along with the physical help. Caregivers are a good antidote for depression. If you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
Hot summer days are a good time for everyone to think about staying hydrated. For older adults the topic of hydration is a year-round discussion that never goes away. Its a serious issue for most seniors but doesnt get resolved because it needs to be addressed every day and cant be solved with a pill.Seniors have a very high risk for dehydration, which is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization after the age of 65. They have a greater risk of dehydration for many reasons, including the fact that as we age, our kidneys become less efficient at conserving fluids, our sense of thirst weakens, and we are less able to adjust to changes in temperature. Some medications like diuretics, sedatives, and laxatives can also cause increased fluid loss.Dehydration can cause temporary symptoms that mimic symptoms of Alzheimers. If dementia-like symptoms seem to appear suddenly, it could be dehydration which is easily curable.Symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe and include persistent fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, forgetfulness, confusion, lethargy, increased heart rate, sunken eyes, dry mouth, dark colored urine. Urine should be clear to pale yellow. I tell my clients that if their urine is darker than pale yellow, they should head straight to the kitchen from the bathroom and drink a full glass of water. Keeping a glass of water beside you all day to sip on rarely results in someone drinking enough fluids. Its more effective to drink the entire glass, even if its a small glass. Seniors cant rely on their sense of thirst to tell them when to drink water. Scheduling a glass at each meal and/or after a bathroom visit, making sure to drink the full glass, is the best way to make sure youve gotten your full daily amount.If you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
At SYNERGY HomeCare, "CARE" stands for Coordinated And Responsive Engagement. We provide an integrated total solution to meeting your specific care needs. Whether for family members, friends or for yourself, you can be assured of the very best and highest quality care available. As loved ones experience the physical and emotional effects of aging, such as memory-related disorders (dementia and Alzheimers), chronic or acute illness or physical injury; our highly skilled caregivers are there to provide safety, comfort, and dignified assistance. We provide peace of mind and ensure that life at home will continue to be as independent and safe as possible.Call us now, at (303)465-HOME, to learn how our comprehensive CARE approach can help those with supportive needs, continue to live in their own home for as long as they like.