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In many ways, stress is a part of life for all of us. But for seniors, stress can have a larger affect on physical and mental wellness.
Having worries and concerns is natural, but it is more important as we get older to practice stress-reduction techniques to manage these thoughts.
The great news is that stress, and the techniques to manage it, are usually easy for most people to practice. Meditation, breathing exercises, physical movement and other tactics can help seniors continue to live the best quality of life and can even improve overall wellness.
Stress destroys cells in the hippocampus, a brain site responsible for memory storage and retrieval.
Why is it critical to manage stress?
As we continue to keep our homes and families safe during COVID-19, it’s even more important to focus on the mental health needs of our seniors when it comes to stress.
Several studies have shown that stress is linked to mental and physical problems, from anxiety and depression to hypertension and immune system complications. In fact, it’s estimated that stress increases the risk of heart disease by 40%, heart attack by 25%, and stroke by 50%. Not to mention the fact that stress can also exacerbate existing conditions – which can be very impactful for those with less efficient immune systems.
What can seniors do to manage their stress in a positive way?
Finding moments of joy and focusing on activities and hobbies that bring meaning and purpose can help seniors manage their stress. Fortunately, there are many more stress relief techniques that seniors can follow to help improve their own personal wellbeing. What senior clients use to manage their stress today can help better prepare them for any future stress.
Stress Relief Techniques
Comfort Keepers® Can Help
At Comfort Keepers®, we have spent the last twenty years perfecting the art of helping seniors and other adults maintain their peace, happiness, and joy. To us, every moment in a senior’s life is a unique opportunity to foster positivity, going beyond daily tasks. Our approach to care is called Interactive Caregiving™, a philosophy centered around four central aspects of life: mind, body, nutrition, and safety.
What’s more, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind: empathy. Care that is empathetic is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our clients’ exact needs.
Learn more about our unique service offering by contacting a local Comfort Keepers office.
Rehabilitation Services Provided in Skilled Nursing FacilitiesRehabilitation services are a cornerstone of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), designed to help individuals recover from illnesses, injuries, or surgeries and regain their independence. Heres a closer look at the rehabilitation services offered in skilled nursing facilities and their benefits.1. Physical TherapyPhysical therapy is a critical component of rehabilitation in skilled nursing facilities. It focuses on helping residents restore strength, mobility, and physical function after surgery, injury, or a medical event such as a stroke. Key aspects of physical therapy include: Strength Training: Exercises to rebuild muscle strength and endurance. Balance and Coordination: Techniques to prevent falls and improve stability. Mobility Exercises: Activities designed to improve range of motion, walking ability, and the use of mobility aids such as walkers or wheelchairs. By working closely with licensed physical therapists, residents can achieve improved independence and a better quality of life.2. Occupational TherapyOccupational therapy in SNFs is designed to help residents regain the skills needed for daily living. This therapy focuses on enhancing a persons ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, grooming, eating, and bathing. Specific interventions include: Adaptive Techniques: Teaching residents how to use assistive devices or modify tasks to suit their abilities. Fine Motor Skills Training: Improving dexterity for tasks like buttoning clothes or holding utensils. Energy Conservation Strategies: Helping residents manage fatigue and perform tasks more efficiently. Occupational therapists work with residents to restore independence and adapt to new physical or cognitive limitations.3. Speech TherapySpeech therapy addresses communication and swallowing difficulties that may result from strokes, neurological disorders, or other medical conditions. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in skilled nursing facilities focus on: Swallowing Therapy: Treating dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) to prevent complications like choking or aspiration pneumonia. Communication Training: Helping residents regain or improve their ability to speak, understand language, or use alternative communication methods. Cognitive Therapy: Assisting residents with memory, problem-solving, and organizational skills. Speech therapy improves both safety and quality of life by enabling residents to eat, communicate, and engage with others effectively.4. Specialized Rehabilitation ProgramsSkilled nursing facilities often provide rehabilitation programs tailored to specific conditions, including: Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: Combining physical, occupational, and speech therapies to address the multifaceted challenges of stroke recovery. Orthopedic Recovery: Rehabilitation for individuals recovering from joint replacement surgeries, fractures, or other musculoskeletal injuries. Cardiac Rehabilitation: Programs focused on improving heart health and endurance following heart attacks or surgeries. Neurological Rehabilitation: Care for residents with conditions such as Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injuries. These specialized programs ensure that residents receive targeted care to address their unique recovery goals.5. Benefits of Rehabilitation Services in Skilled Nursing FacilitiesRehabilitation services in skilled nursing facilities offer numerous benefits, including: Faster Recovery: Access to expert care and tailored therapies helps residents recover more quickly. Enhanced Mobility and Independence: Therapy restores physical function and confidence, enabling residents to perform tasks on their own. Improved Quality of Life: Rehabilitation helps residents regain their abilities, reducing frustration and fostering a sense of accomplishment. Preventing Complications: Therapies such as swallowing training and balance exercises minimize risks like choking, falls, and re-hospitalization.
Our eyes are incredibly precious, yet its easy to take our vision for granted until problems arise. Lets focus on proactive steps to maintain and improve our eye health. Here are some tips to keep your vision in top shape:Schedule Regular Eye Exams:One of the best ways to safeguard your vision is by scheduling regular eye exams. Comprehensive eye exams can detect vision problems early on, allowing for prompt treatment and prevention of further complications. Make it a priority to see your eye doctor at least once a year, even if you dont currently wear glasses or contact lenses.Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays: Just like your skin, your eyes can be damaged by the suns harmful UV rays. Whenever youre outdoors, especially on bright, sunny days, wear sunglasses that offer UV protection. Look for sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays to shield your eyes from potential damage. Give Your Eyes a Break from Screens: In todays digital age, many of us spend a significant amount of time staring at screens, whether its for work, leisure, or staying connected. Prolonged screen time can lead to digital eye strain, characterized by symptoms like dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches. To reduce eye strain, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.Eat a Balanced Diet:Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining eye health. Incorporate foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants, such as leafy greens, colorful fruits and vegetables, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, and nuts and seeds. These nutrients can help protect against age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts.Practice Good Eye Hygiene:Proper eye hygiene is essential for preventing eye infections and irritation. Wash your hands frequently, especially before touching your eyes or handling contact lenses. Follow your eye doctors recommendations for contact lens care, including proper cleaning, disinfecting, and storage.Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can contribute to dry eyes, so be sure to drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day. Aim for at least eight glasses of water daily to keep your eyes and body hydrated.Get Plenty of Sleep:Adequate sleep is crucial for overall health, including eye health. During sleep, your eyes receive much-needed rest and replenishment. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to help reduce eye fatigue and maintain optimal visual function.By incorporating these simple yet effective tips into your daily routine, you can help protect and preserve your precious eyesight for years to come.Your eyesight is irreplaceable, so take care of your eyes today for a brighter tomorrow!
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.
Comfort Keepers provides award-winning in-home care for seniors and other adults in need of assistance with daily activities. Our highly trained and dedicated caregivers can help your loved one stay in their home for as long as safely possiblea dream come true for many elders. Our in home health care providers can be there when your mom, dad or other relative needs help scheduling appointments, picking up prescriptions or need transportation to social outings.They will also be there to take your loved one to the mall to pick up a present for a grandchild, to walk through the park with or to take them to their doctors appointments. In addition to taking your loved one grocery shopping, to their favorite restaurant or to the park, our home caregivers can perform light housekeeping, do the laundry as specified, provide pet care and prepare nutritious meals. Also, our certified home health aides can help with medication reminders, bathing and dressing, just to name a few. Our home health aides transform day-to-day caregiving into opportunities to engage and enrich the lives of seniors physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. Each in home health care provider is are properly to handle the challenges that our clients' families face, including dementia and Alzheimer's. Should you need help with a loved one coming home from the hospital, a relative needing end of life care, or to give yourself a well-deserved break, Comfort Keepers is here to help. Comfort Keepers is a leading provider of in-home, non-medical care for seniors and other adults in need of assistance with daily activities. Our highly trained and dedicated caregivers can help your loved one stay in the comfort of their home for as long as safely possible - a dream come true for many elders.We understand the struggle family members face when a loved one needs extra assistance in their home.Were here to help. Our caregivers alleviate this stress by providing professional in-home care services with a personal touch.Our Mission: Our goal is to enrich the lives of our clients while maintaining their safety, well-being, and comfort as they continue to live independently at home despite disease and other age-related conditions.Our Team: Our caregivers, or our Comfort Keepers, are carefully selected, screened, and trained to provide professional, compassion assistance. Through our unique approach called Interactive Caregiving, our caregivers build true friendships with their clients in order to fulfill their emotional and social needs.Our Story: Our offices are independently owned and operated, allowing each location to have a personal and local touch. With more than 700 offices worldwide, Comfort Keepers has been named a world-class franchise for ten years in a row, as well as one of the fastest growing franchise systems by INC. Magazine.At Comfort Keepers, we believe that an in-home care plan should be customized to each individual's needs, goals, and living situation. The best care improves quality of life by focusing on the care activities that increase engagement, improve physical and mental wellness, and bring happiness, purpose and hope.Our services focus on physical needs and total wellbeing. We believe that everyone should experience the best of life, no matter their age or the level of care that is needed. At Comfort Keepers, we strive to elevate the spirits of our clients and their families every day.Our in-home care includes:Companion Care to preserve mental health and social wellbeingPersonal Care to maintain activities of daily living, such as dressing and groomingSafety Care, including personal emergency response systems and medication safetySenior Transportation to safely provide rides for seniors to and from appointments or activitiesTechnology support to help keep seniors in touch with family and friendsRespite care to provide temporary relief for family and other primary caregiversSpecialized care services, including Alzheimers and dementia care, 24-hour care, and post-hospital careCaring is KeyEvery individual we serve is important and unique. We provide the best possible senior care tailored to the individual needs of each client we serve. Our caregivers are thoroughly screened, empowered to provide the highest quality of care and highly trained. In addition, our caregivers are screened for empathy and dedicated to bringing joy.Peace of Mind for Loved OnesComfort Keepers brings peace of mind to families and helps seniors to maintain the lifestyle and independence they deserve. We utilize technology to help families stay connected and updated on the health and wellbeing of their loved one. Our caregivers are also available to provide respite care to family caregivers.We strive to provide the best quality care to exceed expectations and support families. We understand that there is peace of mind knowing your loved one is receiving the best care from experienced caregivers. We are able to provide a variety of technology solutions for real time updates, transparency, and communication with your loved ones care team all from the convenience of your phone or laptop.Individualized Care PlansOur uplifting in-home care services begin with an in-home visit. Our professionals complete a comprehensive assessment and develop a care plan that is customized for each client.Some seniors need only occasional help with household chores. For others, 24-hour home care is desired. Whatever the case, we will be happy to meet with you and your loved one to create an individualized plan of care for services.We will also complete a free Home Safety Assessment and offer recommendations to improve the safety of the home.Comfort Keepers offers top-rated home care to seniors needing assistance in:Comfort Keepers of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, PA is a leading provider of home care services. Our expert caregivers provide customized care plans that may include personal care and companionship-homemaker services. We help seniors and other adults live an independent, quality life.We are proud to provide care services to the following communities: Pittsburgh, Coraopolis, Sewickley, Wexford, Cranberry Township, Ross Township, McCandless, North Hills Moon, Mars, McKees Rocks, Glenshaw, Carnegie, Ambridge, Crescent, Bradfordwoods, Warrendale, Leetsdale, Aliquippa, Avalon, Beaver Falls, Bellevue, Crafton, Dormont, Green Tree, Robinson Township, Shaler, Sheraden, Warrendale, West View, Butler and the surrounding areas of Pennsylvania.
Comfort Keepers offers a full range of in home companionship and personal care services to support your senior loved one in Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas of Pennsylvania.Welcome to Comfort Keepers of Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, where warm hearts and helping hands are there for you and your family! We are proud to offer industry leading in-home care services and around-the-clock care to seniors and older adults. Our services include companion care, home making services, 24 hour care, respite care, and private duty nursing. Home care in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania from Comfort Keepers provides quality, professional, and compassionate care that aims to preserve independence and contribute to a better life.Each individual we lend a helping hand to has a unique set of needs, and we pride ourselves on making sure they receive the best care possible. We create a custom care plan that accounts for all situations, concerns, and requirements. Our care plans include a variety of services and can be arranged for short-term or long-term care. We can work with your family and insurance provider to get you on the track to provide high quality support in your own home.Contact us today for a care consultation!Our company, Comfort Keepers, provides two types of care: in-home care and specialized care. We provide assistance to seniors with a wide range of needs, ranging from simple daily living assistance to hands-on care for individuals with specialized needs. Read through our extensive selection of home care services listed below:In-Home CareCompanion Care: Caregivers work hard to create strong relationships with the people they serve.Temporary or Respite Care Short-tern or long-term caregiving visits so caregivers can take a break without compromising their loved one's quality of care.Personal Care: We help people with their personal care, such as washing, dressing, and grooming, in a polite manner.Senior Transportation Services: Providing transportation help to seniors who want to get out and about is something our caregivers specialize in.Seniors and Technology Services: If your loved one is experiencing social isolation, our caregivers can help them stay connected with friends and family by using video calls, social media, and texting services.Interactive Caregiving: Our caregivers are there to uplift seniors' lives and guarantee that they receive the highest possible quality of care throughout their entire health.Specialized Care24-Hour Care: In order to provide the best care and monitor your loved one's health at all times, our caregivers are available to work in shifts.Alzheimer's and Dementia Care: As a result of our memory care services, people with dementia can remain in their own homes, where they are most at ease. In order to keep you or a loved one safe and healthy at home for as long as possible, our caregivers are trained in the best practices of memory careEnd-of-Life Care: We are here to help terminally ill persons and their families emotionally.In-Facility Care: Even while our organization is known for providing care in the comfort of the client's own home, we also provide services to those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.Post-Hospital Care: Also called transitional care, our caregivers can assist older or disabled persons who are preparing to leave the hospital.Our unique approach to providing care not only focuses on the task at hand, but also more importantly on the person the in home care is being provided for. Comfort Keepers home health aides strive to involve the client and encourage their active participation, as their individual abilities allow it.If you have any concerns about the safety and wellbeing of your senior loved one living at home, call us today at (412) 406-7667 to find out how he or she could benefit from home care services.
Welcome to Comfort Keepers of Pittsburgh, South Hills, and East SuburbsComfort Keepers provides award-winning in-home care for seniors and other adults in need of assistance with daily activities. Our highly trained and dedicated caregivers can help your loved one stay in their home for as long as safely possiblea dream come true for many elders.Assisting residents of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area since 2001Located in Pittsburgh, Monroeville, and South Park and serving the surrounding area, Comfort Keepers has been offering area residents devoted care since 2001. Our award-winning service happens through trustworthy caregivers who deliver personalized senior care plans that include personal care and companion care. Our work ensures that your loved ones enjoy a life of independence inside their own home. Interested in learning more? Call us at (412) 204-7938.Seniors receive excellent care and companionship, allowing them to "keep" their "comfort" in their older years. We try to give the greatest quality care to our customers by involving them in all parts of their daily lives through our proprietary method of care called Interactive Caregiving. This distinctive approach lets your loved ones remain active and involved in their everyday activities. Because each client we serve is unique, we provide personalized attention.Our local caregivers are one-of-a-kind in the elder care industry They are passionate about what they do, and they bring that passion into your house. They work hard to improve the quality of life of your loved one by involving them in their strong work ethic, ethics, and desire to make a difference in the lives of those they serve. Services can range from simple companionship to Alzheimer's and dementia assistance, end of life care, recovery and transitional care, and much more.To find out how our office serving Pittsburgh and the surrounding are may fill your needs or those of a loved one, call today at (412) 204-7938 to schedule a free in-home assessment! With the assistance of family members, we will develop a Plan of Care designed to match your specific needs or those of your loved ones.Personal Care ServicesBathroom Personal Hygiene CareBathing, grooming, and other aspects of personal hygiene can be made easier for elders with the help of Comfort Keepers. Several benefits to bathing go beyond the physical cleansing of the skin. Our caregivers are well-versed in techniques for minimizing patients' feelings of shame or humiliation.Mobility AssistanceKeeping the elderly active has numerous physical health benefits, including decreasing blood pressure, improving digestion and sleep, increasing energy and stamina, and bolstering the cardiovascular system. In addition to accompanying the client on a short walk, your compassionate home helper can offer encouragement and reassurance that prescribed activities are being completed.Transfer and Position HelpTo ensure the health and safety of our clients, all of our caregivers have undergone extensive training on how to move and position clients correctly. Moving from one bed or chair to another with care avoids pressure points on the skin, decreases muscle weakness and stiffness, and promotes digestion.Toileting and Incontinence CareWe work to keep the dignity and self-esteem of older people, and other adults high as our team helps them with home care and daily living tasks. Through this kind of treatment, we try to lessen some people's embarrassment about having incontinence and needing help in the bathroom.Feeding and Special DietSome of our clients need help feeding themselves, and it can be hard to let go of being able to eat on your own. People who work for us know this and make extra efforts to make mealtime a more pleasant time for everyone. We also want to ensure that our care providers help their clients stay on prescribed diets to prevent or treat a wide range of illnesses, like heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.In-Home CompanionshipConversing as a CompanionOur home care services give our clients someone with whom to talk and eat. Social interaction like this has been shown to improve the health, happiness, and quality of life of people of all ages, particularly the elderly.Meal PreparationMany older people can't go shopping for food and make a healthy meal. We can make hot, tasty, healthy meals for their clients based on what they want. This will help them get the nutrition they need. Clients can help with meal preparation as long as their abilities allow.Washing and Folding ClothesYou'll be happy that our caregivers can wash, dry, fold, iron, and put away clothes at their clients' homes or bring them to a laundry service near their home. We try to ensure that each customer's laundry is done the way he or she wants.Light HousekeepingOur in-home care services include light housekeeping that covers most domestic tasks. Often seniors can and want to join their caregivers in housework, which can help them feel useful and needed. These tasks include vacuuming, dusting, sweeping and mopping floors, and cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. Please be advised that we do not provide outdoor cleaning or maintenance services.Grocery Shopping/ErrandsWe will shop for groceries at the stores their clients prefer and run errands such as picking up prescriptions or going to the post office. Clients may choose to stay home or come along and help with the shopping and errands as an excellent way to stay active and engaged. They will also use any coupons provided by their clients.Incidental TransportationOur care aides can provide incidental transportation for clients, allowing them the freedom to go shopping and attend other activities or get to medical appointments, the barbershop or beauty salon, and other places the senior chooses. Getting a senior out and about is good for the seniors mind, body, and spirit.Medication RemindersOur agency can help ensure that clients take their medications as prescribed. They can assist with opening medication containers, reading labels, and reminding their clients when to take a dose. In instances in which a client needs additional assistance with medications, such as administering or setting up in a pillbox. In that case, we can provide a registered nurse or refer them to an outside nursing agency.24-Hour CareDepending on the clients needs, we can provide home care for seniors for just a few hours a week or provide full-time, in-home care. Through our 24-hour at home senior care service, a team of care providers coordinates caregiving responsibilities in shifts. This offers clients and their families full-time peace of mind. Whether your loved one requires Alzheimer's care, end of life care, or other assistance, we can be there when and how your family needs us. Personal home care is a comprehensive term that supports primary home care, daily living, and personal hygiene. We realize everyones situation is different. As such, our caregivers are trained to assist with moments-notice assistance and complete home care, depending on your needs. Specifically, your needs might include bathing, mobility assistance, cleaning, cooking, or companion care. We can also transport your loved one to and from events, doctor appointments, and errands. Were here to offer emotional and physical engagement through our customized services which involve Interactive Caregiving. Our mission with personal care is to help your loved one enjoy the best quality of life while remaining in the comfort of their home.We proudly assist with everyday tasks such as:Bathroom personal assistanceHelp with movement around the homeTransferring and positioning from room to room and chair to chairToileting and incontinence careMeal preparation, cooking and clean-upTransportation to and from appointments, events and around townCare for your loved one who might have memory issues or cognitive impairmentsMedication reminders Support regarding physician prescribed nutrition and exercise programsAny changes with condition monitoringFall risk assessment and helping with fall preventionDiscover the ways we can assist you with specialized care24-Hour Care We'll be there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if needed. Our caregivers work in groups throughout the day to ensure your loved one's needs are always met. We've discovered that seniors appreciate our caregivers' presence and pleasure since it helps them cope with the necessities of life.Alzheimers and Dementia Care It's hard to know what comes next when dealing with the mind and the effect Alzheimer's and dementia can have on it. The result is you're constantly concerned about your loved one's safety. Allow a Comfort Keepers caregiver to keep your loved one safe and comfortable in their home if they have Alzheimer's or dementia. We've been trained to deal with this type of issue and are ready to assist.End of Life Care Our patient-focused care means youre not alone during this difficult time. When our caregivers assist your loved one with end of life care, you get the privilege and peace of mind to focus on your loved one not the labor.In-Facility Care Comfort Keepers caregivers can supplement the care your loved one receives even if they currently reside in an assisted living facility.Post-Hospital Care We can make the transition easy if you return home after surgery or any hospital visit. Areas we cover: Pittsburgh (Downtown, Hill District, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Garfield, Shadyside, Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Greenfield, Point Breeze, Homewood, East Liberty, Lincoln Lemmington, Upper St. Claire, Mount Lebanon, Castle Shannon, Bethel Park, South Park, McMurray, Washington, Jefferson Hills, McKeesport, Braddock, Edgewood, Wilkinsburg, North Huntingdon, Forest Hills, Export, Plum, Monroeville, Irwin, White Oak, Trafford, North Versailles, and MurrysvilleGive us a call today!