Home Care Addresses Social Isolation Worries
Dignity Care, LLC
For more information about the author, click to view their website: Dignity Care, LLC
May 05, 2023
Colorado - Boulder County
A recent Harvard School of Public Health study published in The American Journal of Public Health suggests that “strong social ties, through friends, family and community groups can preserve our brain health as we age, and that social isolation may be an important risk factor for cognitive decline in the elderly.” The study also indicated that those elderly engaged in many social contacts had the slowest rate of memory decline.
For elderly persons living alone, maintaining that social contact becomes extremely difficult. Remaining in one’s home always seems like a wonderful goal, but it can bring unintended consequences, the most common one being isolation. The less able one is to get out and around (or drive), the more they stay at home, alone and out of touch, the fewer activities they are involved in, and the more they withdraw into themselves. This hastens decline, both physically and mentally, which keeps them home even more – a vicious downward spiral.
Using in-home care services is one way to introduce people into their daily lives and offer the possibility of connections and relationships. Our caregivers often establish strong bonds with their clients, bonds that enrich both of their lives. Although the caregiver starts out as a support and helper for the client, it is not unusual for the relationship to evolve into one where the caregiver is learning from the life stories of the client, where they both share laughs or worries about life, where the client can offer advice and wisdom. The social contact becomes as important as the caregiving tasks that are getting completed. The hours the caregivers spend in the house bring energy, connection, the outside world. Caregivers help ward off the social isolation and the decline that comes with it.
- To view the original version of this article visit dignitycare.com/2015/01/29/home-care-addresses-social-isolation-worries/
- Seniors Blue Book was not involved in the creation of this content.
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About Dignity Care
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.
In Home Care Helps Seniors with Depression
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.
Why Is Staying Hydrated So Difficult for Seniors?
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.
Local Services By This Author
Dignity Care
Non-Medical 1570 Lee Hill Drive, Boulder, Colorado, 80304From medication fills twice a month, skilled services to end of life care our registered Nurses want to be part of the solution for our seniors looking for a higher level of care in their home. An RN is the next best professional to examine a clients overall medical condition and keep the primary Dr. and Triage nurse up to date. Seniors starting to have difficulty managing their meds get added benefit of having an experienced set of eyes to catch possible problems. We can also be called in an emergency if our client is debating going to the hospital. Our nurses provide oversight to C.N.A's for clients requiring skilled care. Heartfelt nursing services from Dignity care.
Dignity Care
Home Health 1570 Lee Hill Drive, Boulder, Colorado, 80304From medication fills twice a month, skilled services to end of life care our registered Nurses want to be part of the solution for our seniors looking for a higher level of care in their home. An RN is the next best professional to examine a clients overall medical condition and keep the primary Dr. and Triage nurse up to date. Seniors starting to have difficulty managing their meds get added benefit of having an experienced set of eyes to catch possible problems. We can also be called in an emergency if our client is debating going to the hospital. Our nurses provide oversight to C.N.A's for clients requiring skilled care. Heartfelt nursing services from Dignity care.