Elderly Care in Springfield VA: Problems with Incontinence

Talk about it Only as Much as Is Necessary

One mistake that’s easy for caregivers to make is to talk about incontinence concerns more than is strictly necessary. There’s nothing to feel embarrassed or upset about. This is a situation that can be easily handled and doesn’t require a ton of discussion to resolve. You do want to talk to your senior’s doctor, especially if this is a new concern that might have a medical cause.

Put up Some Signs for the Bathroom

If memory issues can be a factor for your elderly family member, then some signs might be a good idea. You can go as simple as hand-writing signs on notebook paper or you can find fancier signs that indicate the way to the bathroom. Going the more decorative route can help your senior to feel less as if this is a big deal or something to feel bad about.

Check for Clutter on the Way to the Bathroom

Another potential issue to consider is that if there is any clutter or obstacle on the way to the bathroom that can slow your senior down. If she doesn’t have anything slowing her down, then it’s much easier for your senior to get where she needs to be.

Clothing Makes a Difference

What your aging adult wears can make more of a difference than you might think when it comes to avoiding incontinence issues. Clothing that has Velcro closures or snaps can be a lot easier to manage in a hurry than buttons or other closures can be. If you’re helping your elderly family member during these bathroom trips, modified closures can make it easier for you to manage her clothing for her.

Try out Some Incontinence Products

Many aging adults with incontinence are uncomfortable with incontinence products. They worry that these products are obvious and that they might not work well. The truth is that incontinence products have come a long way in recent years. There is also a wide variety of different products, so there’s something for everyone if your senior is willing to try out a few different types of products.

Make Sure Help Is Available

You probably can’t be there for your senior every time she needs the restroom, even if you want to be. Many aging adults feel more comfortable with someone else there, such as home care providers. This gives you and her both peace of mind when you can’t be there to help.
When you’ve got the practical considerations in hand, it’s easier for your elderly family member to believe that incontinence doesn’t have to be a big deal.

If you or a loved-one are considering Elderly Care in Springfield, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC.  Call today 703-910-7081

Generally, the challenges arise when seniors experience some health and mobility problems. Sometimes the obstacles happen slowly, such as when they have a degenerative condition that worsens over time. Other cases feature sudden and immediate health issues like a stroke or heart attack. When elderly relatives struggle with basic daily tasks, it’s up to family members to step in and get them some help.

Caregiver in Springfield VA: Senior Daily Tasks

Why Do Seniors Struggle With Daily Tasks?

Declining health and wellness are generally why elderly adults need help around the house. In most cases, seniors are dealing with physical limitations they’ve never had before. Even if they’ve lived independently for decades and managed an entire household successfully, when they lose physical abilities, everything can change.

For example, an elderly person with moderate to severe arthritis may have a hard time dressing or opening medicine bottles and handling pills. An aging adult with vertigo may not be able to remain steady while showering or cleaning the house. Someone who has suffered a stroke may no longer be able to do home maintenance, prepare meals or even feed themselves. Showering and bathing mishaps are the leading cause of slip and fall accidents among elderly adults. It’s easy to see that many seniors can struggle with daily tasks that can negatively affect their health.

How Senior Care Assistance Can Help

Family members would gladly give their time and energy to helping an elderly relative. However, most family caregivers cannot devote the amount of time it would take to help their elderly relative every day for a few hours or longer. That’s why many people are turning to in-home senior care assistance to ensure their loved ones can stay safe and well. Senior care aides can come every day or a few times per week, depending on the elderly person’s needs and abilities.

Benefits of Senior Care

There are true benefits when an elderly person can stay in their own home. Preserving their routines and remaining a part of their community does wonders physically and mentally. Combining an aging at home plan with senior care assistance is the best of all words. Senior care aides help with everything from bathing, dressing and grooming someone to cooking, cleaning and home maintenance. Senior care aides can also help with daily living reminders for medicine, appointments, and social events. With some modifications to the home, such as grab bars, walk-in showers and more, the elderly adult can be safe and comfortable.

Of course, many seniors feel that having a home care aide threatens their independence.

They may try to cover up their inability to do certain things or else they may downplay their abilities. It’s up to family members to try to convince their elderly relatives to accept the help. The best combination is when the aging adult is as independent as possible, doing as much as they can for themselves while having the safety and stability of senior care services.

If you or a loved-one are considering a Caregiver in Springfield, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC.  Call today 703-910-7081.

Source:

https://www.forbes.com/

Home Care Services in Springfield VA: Senior Grief or Depression?

Depression and grief can look very similar from the outside.  People who are grieving can be extremely sad, but that may not be actual depression.  Determining the differences between these two conditions can ensure that you get the right help for your elderly family member.

Grief Can Lead to Depression, but They’re Different

Grief involves loss, whether that’s loss of a person or some other type of loss.  Depression can be a result of a loss, but it’s still quite different from grief.  Depression is more a pervasive sadness that takes over your aging adult’s life.  Sometimes it’s not so easy to tell the difference between the two.

Grief Is All the Emotions

When your elderly family member is grieving, she’s going to have good days and days that aren’t so good.  She may also experience a wide range of emotions from some of the highest highs to the lowest lows.  During the grieving process, your elderly family member might choose to go through her happy memories, before the loss, and there are emotions associated with that.  It’s a constant up and down of all of the emotions.

Depression Is More Constant

Depression, on the other hand, is much less like a roller coaster.  It’s fairly even-keeled if a little bit of a downer.  In fact, that’s the source of depression’s name.  Your aging family member’s entire emotional aspect is depressed and held low.  She’s likely to be feeling extreme sadness, all the time, as opposed to having good days and bad days.

Seek Help for Your Aging Adult

If you’re witnessing your elderly family member dealing with either grief or depression, talk to her doctor about what you can do for her.  There may be medications or other types of treatment, such as talking to a counselor, that your elderly family member is willing to try.  But ignoring the issue won’t help at all.

Whether your elderly family member is experiencing grief or depression, make sure that life is simple for her now.  Consider hiring elderly care providers to take over some of the tasks that are becoming difficult for her.

If you or a loved-one are considering home care services in Springfield, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC. Call today 703-910-7081.