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Seniors have earned their safety net of Social Security and Medicare, but to truly thrive they need to move beyond the well-planned life to add something unexpected: personal risk. It’s one of the oddest twists of modern society – Americans spend most of their lives being encouraged to work hard to do difficult things. As soon as we hit a certain age, though, it’s all about easing up and backing off.
Grandma, take a break! Give it a rest, Grandpa! You don’t want to chance a fall there!
The problem is, we’ve become so preoccupied with surplus safety at all times for seniors that we have stripped away too many of the surprises and unexpected twists that make life worth living. Is it any wonder that seniors now are battling an epidemic of boredom, depression, and loneliness?
Few people of any age find meaning and purpose in doing the same thing, at the same time, in the same way, every day. We need to mix it up and try something new – a physical challenge, a different setting, a new learned skill. As a career nurse and chief executive of a complete senior health company, I know that the only risk-free environment is a coffin. No point rushing our way into there.
One of the best solutions to bring risk to seniors is to borrow an idea from the younger generations. Seniors should go gaming. No, grandparents may not want to take up Minecraft, Fortnite, or Call of Duty. (Though if they want to try it, by all means, go for it.) I’m also not a big fan of one traditional eldergame, namely, bingo, which is too much about luck and not enough about skill and performance mastery as a source of motivation. There is little in bingo that offers true risks or competition to benefit others. The better games promote the physical and mental skills that can go unexercised as people grow older.
For families and friends, an excellent plan is to tap into the data collected by Apple watches and Fitbit-style fitness trackers. How many steps a day can you record? How many days a week can you record steps that meet your goal? Instead of making it an individual competition, we see better gains – and more fun overall – when people are assigned to a team. A team competition makes you responsible to others, not just yourself. It’s human nature to push yourself harder when others are relying on you. Maybe the team is made up of family and loved ones. Maybe it’s friends and neighbors. The overall goal is to get everyone accountable – and moving.
In our own health business, we have 1,000 seniors, aged 60s to 100 and up, who compete in Spark Performances, which include an annual TRY-athlon Tournament, a remote-control National Forklift Racing League, and The Grip Games. There also is the Spark Challenge, where community teams battle for the league championship using walkers, stationary bikes, and arm cranks. Every week the 32 teams in the league tune in to The Really Big Show, an ESPN-style Sports Center wrapup that features results and league standings. Established powerhouse teams are the Dragonflies, Cardinals, and River Rats. The competition is fueled by a $32,000 tournament purse.
Of course, not everyone can do the more physically demanding tasks – though a 95-year-old is one of our leading hallway runners – but every team has a place for someone, including coaches, statisticians, and cheerleaders. How is it safe to have great-grandmothers running down hallways in walkers? The truth is, it’s not completely safe. But that’s the point. And it’s also really fun. A few weeks ago, an 80+ woman was competing in the hallway run when she slipped, fell, and cut her knee.
In the emergency room, the doctor asked her how the injury happened. “I fell in a triathlon,” she replied. The doctor thought she was joking — until the woman asked to be patched up as quickly as possible, so she could complete her remaining two events. She was extremely proud and definitely adamant — she really, really did not want to let down her team. What she saw was a chance to win. What our medical team saw was strength, purpose, and belonging.
Whether in a senior community or in life, aging is a team sport. As our years go up, we depend more on others to reach our goals. Our team may include family, friends, medical professionals, or even a fellow hallway racer on a walker. We’ll do better together, if only we take that risk to challenge our minds and bodies with something new.
Joel Theisen, BSN, RN, is founder and chief executive of
Lifespark, a Minnesota- based complete senior health company. Follow him on
Twitter: @Lifespark_CEO.
As we grow older, our homes often become a tapestry woven with the threads of our memories, experiences, and cherished moments. For seniors, their living space is not just a house; it's a sanctuary that reflects their life's journey. At A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we understand the emotional significance of maintaining a nurturing environment, particularly for seniors. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that every senior home is organized with heart, respect, and a strong emotional connection. In this blog, we will explore why we pour our passion into helping seniors create spaces that honor their lives and legacies.The Emotional Landscape of a Senior's HomeA home filled with memories carries profound emotional weight. From family photos adorning the walls to the cherished heirlooms passed down through generations, each item represents a moment in time. As seniors age, the need to declutter and reorganize may arise, but this process can be emotionally charged. Its crucial to approach this task with sensitivity and compassion.At A Call to Order, we recognize that downsizing or reorganizing a senior's home involves navigating complex emotions. Many seniors may feel anxious about letting go of possessions that hold significant meaning. Our heart-centered approach ensures that we listen deeply to their stories, valuing their connections to their belongings. We strive to create an environment where seniors feel supported, understood, and empowered throughout the organizing process.Tips for Ensuring Emotional Well-Being While Organizing1. Start with Open Dialogue: Initiate discussions with seniors about their feelings regarding their belongings. Encourage them to share the stories behind cherished items and why they are important. By creating a safe space for these conversations, we can build trust and facilitate a smoother organizing experience.2. Honor Their Attachment: Recognize that its not just about decluttering; its about honoring memories. Items may have deep sentimental value, and its important to respect that attachment. Help seniors decide which items they truly want to keep by guiding them through thoughtful reflection.3. Create a "Treasure Box": Work with seniors to select a small box for items they cant bear to part with but dont have the space for. This "treasure box" allows them to retain special memories without cluttering their living space. It serves as a snapshot of their life, showcasing what's truly meaningful to them.4. Visual Aids: Use visual aids like photographs or sketches to help seniors visualize their spaces potential. This technique can help them better understand how decluttering will create a more peaceful environment in which to live.5. Physical and Emotional Assistance: Remember that physical assistance in organizing often goes hand-in-hand with emotional support. Be present, listen actively, and take breaks when needed. A supportive attitude can significantly ease the process for seniors.Our Heart-Centered Approach: More Than Just OrganizingAt A Call to Order, we believe that our role goes beyond merely organizing spaces; we are committed to creating an atmosphere of care and compassion. Our heart-centered approach has been finely tuned to meet the unique needs of seniors while ensuring that they feel respected and valued.Why Our Clients Trust Us?1. Customized Solutions: Every senior's life story is unique, and their homes should reflect that individuality. We provide personalized organizing solutions tailored to their specific needs, preferences, and emotional attachments.2. Empathy First: Our team understands that each organizing project may evoke different feelingsnostalgia, anxiety, joy, or even sadness. We approach every situation with empathy and understanding, ensuring our clients feel comfortable throughout the process.3. Legacy Preservation: The work we do in senior homes is about more than just organizing; its about preserving legacies. We help seniors create spaces that not only reflect their lives but also enable them to share their stories with loved ones, instilling a sense of pride in their journey.4. Building Lasting Relationships: At A Call to Order, we believe in forming genuine connections with our clients. Many seniors find that they not only have an organizer, but a confidant and friend throughout their journey. This human connection fosters trust, making the organizing experience much more enriching.5. Community Empowerment: We take pride in uplifting the community we serve. By empowering seniors to reclaim their spaces, we help them cultivate a nurturing environment, benefitting their overall well-being.In conclusion, every home deserves to be a place filled with love, memories, and peace. At A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we are dedicated to creating spaces that reflect the essence of our senior clients. Our heart-centered approach ensures that we celebrate their lives, preserving not only their belongings but also their legacies. Let us help you or your loved one navigate the sometimes-challenging journey of organizing with compassion and care, creating a lasting sanctuary at home.
As we age, our priorities shift, and so do our living arrangements. Many seniors find themselves navigating a life transition, whether it's downsizing from a family home, adjusting to a new care facility, or simply simplifying their living space. At A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we believe that every individual deserves a living environment that honors their story, their accomplishments, and their legacy. In this blog, we'll explore the emotional significance of creating a home that reflects a senior's life and offer guidance on how to make this vision a reality.The Emotional Connection to Home: Why It MattersFor seniors, their home often holds a lifetime of memories. It's where families were raised, holidays were celebrated, and countless moments of joy and sorrow were lived. As seniors age, their home can become a tangible connection to their past, a physical manifestation of their life's journey. Creating a home that reflects their story is not just about decluttering or organizing; it's about preserving their legacy and honoring their experiences.By creating an environment that celebrates their life, seniors can find comfort, peace of mind, and a sense of purpose. This, in turn, can have a profound impact on their mental and physical well-being, enabling them to live their final years with dignity and joy.Tips for Helping Seniors Create a Lasting Legacy1. Start with Conversations: Begin the process by engaging in open and meaningful conversations with the senior. Ask them about their memories, their accomplishments, and their hopes for their living space. Listen attentively to their stories and take note of the items that hold sentimental value.2. Curate a Memory Lane: Designate a special area in their home as a "memory lane" where cherished items can be displayed. This might include family photos, heirlooms, or mementos from special occasions. By showcasing these items, the senior can relive fond memories and create a sense of connection to their past.3. Create a Legacy Room: Consider transforming a spare room or a section of their home into a "legacy room" dedicated to their accomplishments and stories. This might include displays of awards, certificates, or artwork created by the senior or their loved ones.4. Involve Family and Friends: Engage the senior's loved ones in the process by inviting them to share their favorite memories and stories about the senior. This can be a meaningful way to create a shared history and a sense of community.5. Respect and Preserve: Throughout the organizing process, be mindful of the senior's emotional attachment to their items. Work together to respectfully preserve items that hold sentimental value, while releasing those that no longer serve a purpose.Creating a Living Legacy: Practical Strategies for SeniorsCreating a home that reflects a senior's life requires a thoughtful and intentional approach. Here are some practical strategies to consider:1. Organize Photos and Memories: Develop a system for organizing family photos and mementos. Consider digitizing these items to create a digital archive, making it easier to share memories with loved ones.2. Create a Personalized Calendar: Develop a personalized calendar that highlights important dates, milestones, and events in the senior's life. This can be a meaningful way to commemorate their life's journey.3. Designate a Memory Book: Create a memory book or scrapbook that captures the senior's story. Include photos, stories, and mementos to create a treasured keepsake.4. Preserve Heirlooms: Identify and preserve family heirlooms, such as antique furniture, jewelry, or other treasured items. These can serve as a reminder of their legacy and provide a connection to their family's history.5. Seek Professional Guidance: If needed, enlist the help of a professional organizer to create a customized plan that honors the senior's legacy. A professional organizer can provide expert guidance on how to preserve memories, declutter living spaces, and create a lasting legacy.In conclusion, creating a home that reflects a senior's life is a meaningful and rewarding process. By engaging in conversations, curating memories, and creating a legacy room, seniors can find comfort, peace, and a sense of purpose in their living space. As a professional organizer, it's an honor to work with seniors, preserving their legacy and creating a lasting impact on their lives.
Seniors Helping Seniors In-Home Services Offers Advice for Rekindling Purpose and Joy After the HolidaysSeniors Helping Seniors owners C.J. Girod and Travis Hudson are placing a spotlight on advice and insights for how seniors can find meaningful ways to stay engaged and motivated in the new year.Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care services, a franchisor with over 115 franchise partners and more than 300 territories nationwide, has grown rapidly in recent years. The company attributes its success to its skilled team of caregivers who foster meaningful connections with their senior care receivers. While the holiday season is often filled with joy and activity, the weeks that follow can be particularly challenging.According to a study by the American Psychological Association, 89% of U.S. adults report feeling the holiday blues. For older adults, this emotional slump can be even more pronounced. The shift from the holiday seasons energy to a quieter, more isolated period can lead to sadness and make it difficult to maintain an active lifestyle.After the excitement of the holidays, it can be especially tough for seniors to stay active, particularly in colder climates, said C.J. Girod, President of Seniors Helping Seniors Southwestern PA, which serves southern Allegheny County and northern Washington County. We see every year how the post-holiday season can bring unique challenges for our elderly friends, family and neighbors.The key to staying active once the holidays have passed is to find meaningful ways to stay engaged and motivated as the new year begins, said Travis Hudson, Owner of Seniors Helping Seniors Pittsburgh Northeast, which serves northern and eastern Allegheny County and western Westmoreland County.We work closely with our senior care receivers and their families to cultivate routines and activities that inspire a sense of purpose and fulfillment throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season, Girod and Hudson said.Some of Girods and Hudsons tips for seniors looking to shake off the post-holiday doldrums include:Set small goals for the new year.Maintain social connections.Stay physically active.Look for opportunities to volunteer.Create a cozy, positive environment.Seniors Helping Seniors in-home services has grown rapidly in recent years, extending its reach into more than 30 U.S. states as well as international markets.Seniors Helping Seniors services stand out from other brands in the elder care space partly through its commitment to hiring senior caregivers, which provides employment opportunities for seniors and better cultivates meaningful relationships between caregivers and care receivers.What I truly appreciate about working with Seniors Helping Seniors network is that its commitment to improving health and well-being goes beyond just our clients, Girod said. Our whole team is deeply committed to making a positive difference in the community as a whole, and we are always looking for new opportunities to offer support and care to those who need it most, said Hudson.Caregivers are at the core of what we do, and their work is essential to the health and happiness of so many people around the world, said Seniors Helping Seniors President Namrata Yocom-Jan. Nearly half of all caregivers in the U.S. are over 50 and face their own health challenges. Thats why Seniors Helping Seniors in-home service prioritizes hiring caregivers over the age of 65 and provides comprehensive support to promote their mental, physical and emotional well-being.Over the past 25 years, weve put a lot of work into ensuring that Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care is not only the best option for our seniors but also for caregivers across the country, Yocom-Jan said. Thats something we are extremely proud of, but its not something we take for granted. We will continue to make sure anyone who has the passion and skills to be a great caregiver will find a great opportunity to grow and make an impact with Seniors Helping Seniors services. Our caregivers truly have a way to give and to receive.For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care, visit seniorshelpingseniors.com.
Living with purpose and passion is what drives all of us and gives our lives meaning. Our Community Home Care team provides in-home caregiving services to help manage health needs and assist with daily activities so clients can keep living life on their terms. A key difference with Lifespark Community Home Care is each client has an RN Case Manager providing professional oversight, who can also help manage medications or provide wellness checks. Services are covered by most long-term care insurance policies and private-pay. Call for our simple pricing options - no surprise invoices.
The Difference is Whole Person Senior Care Only from Lifespark!We all want a fulfilling life with the people and passions that bring us the most joy. Discovering those opportunities and helping them come alive for seniors and their families is what we do at Lifespark.Our approachisprovento help seniors live healthy and independent longer.The Ultimate In Home Care for Living Healthier and Happier
What Can We Do For You?We want you to live a sparked and independent life. For that to happen, our passionate team works to understand your needs, wishes, and goals. We are your life-long advocates, ready to connect you to the right team at the right time. That is why we start with a free, no obligation consultation along with a start of care discovery by an RN Case Manager. From there we offer:Ongoing Free Access to Lifespark's 24/7 Everyday Support ServicesCompanionship and Meaningful ActivitiesHomemakingTransportationSafety and SupervisionFall PreventionLive-In CaregivingMobilityMedication Assistance and RemindersSupport for clients with memory loss or dementiaSpecialty CarePersonal CareCall us today at 952-345-8770 or visit us at lifespark.com