Category: Alzheimer’s Care

The Power of Music: Enhancing the Well-being of the Elderly

Alzheimer's Care, Caregiver Service, Polish Care Services, Seniors,

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Reminiscent Therapy Activities to Support Alzheimer’s Clients

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Introduction: 

Alzheimer’s disease poses unique challenges for both individuals diagnosed with the condition and their loved ones. As cognitive abilities decline, it becomes crucial to explore therapeutic approaches that can preserve memories, enhance communication, and promote overall well-being. Reminiscent therapy activities offer a promising avenue for engaging individuals with Alzheimer’s in meaningful and enjoyable experiences. In this blog, we will explore various reminiscent therapy activities designed to support your loved ones with Alzheimer’s, fostering connection, and enriching their daily lives.

Creating a Memory Box:

A memory box is a tangible and personal keepsake filled with items that hold significance and evoke memories for your loved one. Gather items such as photographs, mementos, and objects that represent important moments from their past. As you explore the contents of the memory box together, encourage your loved one to reminisce and share stories associated with each item. This activity not only triggers memories but also facilitates bonding and engagement.

Music Therapy Sessions:

Music has a remarkable impact on memory recall and emotional well-being. Compile a playlist of songs from your loved one’s youth or significant events in their life. Play these songs during dedicated music therapy sessions, allowing your loved one to immerse themselves in the familiar melodies and lyrics. You may notice their mood improve, and they may even begin to sing along or tap their feet in rhythm. Music therapy is particularly effective in stimulating memory retrieval and promoting emotional connections.

Storytelling Sessions:

Storytelling is a powerful way to share and preserve personal narratives. Sit down with your loved one and encourage them to recount stories from their past. You can also provide prompts by showing photographs or asking questions related to significant events or people in their life. As they share their stories, listen attentively and engage in meaningful dialogue. This activity not only promotes memory recall but also strengthens the bond between you and your loved one.

Reminiscent Jigsaw Puzzles:

Jigsaw puzzles designed specifically for reminiscent therapy can be a fun and stimulating activity for individuals with Alzheimer’s. Look for puzzles that depict nostalgic scenes or historic events relevant to your loved one’s past. Work on the puzzle together, discussing the images and reminiscing about associated experiences. This activity enhances cognitive function, hand-eye coordination, and provides a sense of accomplishment upon completion.

Photo Albums and Scrapbooks:

Browse through old photo albums or create a scrapbook filled with pictures documenting your loved one’s life. Label the photographs with names, dates, and brief descriptions to aid memory recall. As you flip through the pages, encourage your loved one to reminisce about the events and people captured in the photos. Sharing and documenting memories through visual aids can have a profound impact on maintaining connections and stimulating cognitive abilities.

Gardening Therapy:

Engaging in gardening activities can have therapeutic benefits for individuals with Alzheimer’s. Choose plants that are easy to care for and involve your loved one in tasks such as planting, watering, and tending to the garden. The sensory stimulation of touch, smell, and sight associated with gardening can evoke positive memories and improve mood. Spending time in nature and nurturing living plants fosters a sense of purpose and accomplishment. 

Reminiscent therapy activities provide valuable opportunities to connect with loved ones living with Alzheimer’s, promoting memory recall, communication, and emotional well-being. Each activity mentioned in this blog can be tailored to suit your loved one’s preferences and abilities. Remember to approach these activities with patience, understanding, and a focus on creating positive experiences. By engaging in thoughtful reminiscent therapy activities, you can enhance your loved one’s quality of life and create lasting memories together. 

Polish Care Services companion and assistants provides non-medical assistance whether live in or hourly to keep seniors safe in their home.  

Credit: Jamie Ross 

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AI Benefits for the Elderly and Disabled

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Although there is so much consternation and hype, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can benefit the elderly and disabled population in many ways. Some of the benefits include:

1. Health monitoring and assistance through wearable devices and smart home systems: AI can be used to monitor the health of elderly individuals through wearable devices and smart home systems. These devices can track vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure, and alert caregivers or medical professionals if there are any concerning changes. Smart home systems can also be used to monitor the movements and activities of elderly individuals, providing an additional layer of safety and security.
2. Medication management: AI can assist with medication management by providing reminders to take medications, tracking medication usage, and alerting caregivers or medical professionals if there are any missed doses or potential drug interactions.
3. Social interaction and companionship: AI can provide social interaction and companionship to elderly individuals through virtual companions, such as chatbots or virtual assistants. These companions can engage in conversation, provide entertainment, and help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.
4. Cognitive stimulation and memory support: AI can provide cognitive stimulation and memory support to elderly individuals through games, puzzles, and other activities designed to exercise the brain and improve cognitive function. AI can also assist with memory support by providing reminders for important events or appointments.
5. Daily living assistance: AI can assist with daily living tasks, such as meal preparation, housekeeping, and personal care. This can help elderly individuals maintain their independence and continue living in their own homes for longer.
6. Increased independence: By providing assistance with daily living tasks, health monitoring, medication management, and other areas, AI can help elderly individuals maintain their independence and continue living in their own homes for longer.
7. Lower healthcare costs, better transportation, and longer employment: AI can help lower healthcare costs by improving health monitoring and early detection of potential health issues. AI can also assist with transportation by providing ride-sharing services or autonomous vehicles designed for elderly individuals. Additionally, AI can help extend employment opportunities for elderly individuals by providing job-matching services or remote work opportunities.
8. Virtual companions: As mentioned earlier, virtual companions such as chatbots or virtual assistants can provide social interaction and companionship to elderly individuals.
9. Anti-aging research: AI can assist with anti-aging research by analyzing large amounts of data to identify potential treatments or preventative measures for age-related diseases.
10. At-home health monitoring: As mentioned earlier, AI can assist with at-home health monitoring through wearable devices and smart home systems.
11. Smart device-assisted daily living: Smart devices equipped with AI technology can assist with daily living tasks such as turning on lights, adjusting the thermostat, or locking doors.
12. Smart device-assisted fall detection: Smart devices equipped with AI technology can detect if an elderly individual has fallen and alert caregivers or medical professionals.
13. Improved quality of care: By providing assistance in areas such as health monitoring, medication management, daily living assistance, and more, AI can help improve the overall quality of care for elderly individuals.

AI is also helpful in intelligent tracking of biometric information to early diagnosis of diseases, understanding the treatment pathways, and helping clinicians to take care of elderly and disabled people and treat them more efficiently.

Polish Care Services team provides blogs and news articles that are not only informative and entertaining, but can enhance the wellbeing of seniors and disabled in Connecticut and Sarasota County in Florida

Credit: Bing AI, Google AI, Peter Powell

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The Benefits of a Caregiver Agency

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Caregiving is a rewarding but challenging job that requires compassion, patience, and skill. Many people who need assistance with daily living tasks, such as seniors, people with disabilities, or people recovering from illnesses or injuries, prefer to receive care at home rather than in a facility. However, finding and hiring a reliable, qualified, and affordable caregiver can be difficult and time-consuming for families. That is why many families choose to work with a caregiver agency, which can offer many benefits over hiring an independent caregiver.

A caregiver agency is a registered business that employs caregivers and sends them to the home of the care recipient to provide in-home care. The agency can provide medical care or non-medical care, depending on the needs and preferences of the client. The agency also takes care of the administrative aspects of hiring and managing the caregivers, such as background checks, payroll, scheduling, training, and supervision.

Some of the benefits of hiring a caregiver through an agency are:

• Quality: an agency typically will verify caregivers’ credentials, certifications, and experience in addition to performing background checks. An agency will provide continuous training and development to ensure caregivers and office staff are up to date with current skills and practices This ensures that the caregivers are qualified, competent, and up-to-date on the best practices and standards of care.
• Safety: Agencies are responsible for ensuring that the caregivers follow safety protocols when providing care at home. They provide workers compensation and liability insurance for their employees. This protects clients and caregivers in case of accident and work-related injuries.
• Flexibility: Agencies can offer a range of services and schedules to suit the needs and preferences of different clients. They can provide non-medical and other services that may suit the clients needs. Whether it is hourly services, live in assistance, long term or temporary services, The agency will match the caregiver that is considered a best fit for the client based on personality, skills, experience and availability.
• Reliability: Agencies will have a pool of caregivers who is able to cover desired shift or back up assistance in case of emergencies or absences. This means that the client will always have someone to provide care at home without interruption or inconvenience. They can also manage issues or complaints that may arise between the client and the caregivers.
• Support: Agencies can provide additional support and resources for both the client and the family. They can help to coordinate other services or referrals such as medical appointments, social activities, transportation, equipment. They can also provide emotional support and guidance for the client and family members who are involved in caregiving.

In conclusion, hiring a caregiver through an agency can offer many benefits for both the client and the family. It can ensure quality, safety, flexibility, reliability, and support for in-home care. It can also save time and hassle for families who are looking for a trustworthy and affordable caregiver. Therefore, working with an agency can be a smart choice for families who need help with caregiving at home.

Polish Care Services is a Homemaker Companion agency registered in Connecticut and Florida that provides support services for seniors and disabled, whether it is live in services, hourly support, or overnight assistance. The supportive office team works with the client to find a match for their needs and is a constant support for the client and staff throughout the process.

Credit: Madeline Sinatro

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Resources to Help Seniors Who Have Few Relatives Nearby

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Aging brings many challenges as well as joys. While it’s generally good fortune to have a long life, it’s even better if you have family nearby to offer help and companionship. Sometimes, seniors live far from family, though. In these cases, Polish Care Services suggests you make use of the following resources for managing daily life.

Maintaining a Social Life

Loneliness can be a risk factor for health issues, and we all need companionship. Here are some ideas to help seniors develop and maintain social connections.

• Consider volunteering. After all, seniors can and do contribute an enormous amount by tutoring, mentoring, helping prepare or distribute food to those in need, fundraising, assisting with tax preparation, or working the polls during elections.
• Take a class. Post-retirement is a wonderful time to pursue interests you may not have had time for while working. Whether it’s a non-credit history or language class at the local university, or a dance or crafting class at a community center, you’ll meet others with common interests and get to explore something you enjoy.
• Take a part-time job. Although not everyone is eager to return to the nine to five grind, sometimes working a few hours a week can enhance a senior’s life by providing social connections, as well as the satisfaction of contributing effort to an important cause.
• Join a church, mosque, temple, or other organization that supports your spiritual beliefs. If you’re already a member, look into getting more involved there. It’s a great way to get to know others who share your values.

Health and Wellness

Good health is important to people at every age, and there are always things a person can do to increase their chances of staying well.

• Join an exercise class. The connection between exercise and improved mental health has been documented increasingly over the past decade. Many forms of exercise are appropriate for seniors, ranging from swimming to no impact aerobics and gentle weight training.
• Consider a mind-body practice, such as tai chi, qi gong, yoga, or mindfulness walking. These disciplines can improve cognitive functioning as well balance, strength, range of motions, and stress relief.
• Get an exercise or healthy eating buddy. Having another person counting on you can help with motivation and increase fun, whether you’re cooking a healthy meal together or meeting for a walk.
• Laughter is good medicine. It can increase the release of endorphins, and alter serotonin and dopamine levels in the body. Whether it’s a funny movie, a cartoon in a magazine, a hilarious book, or a podcast, finding reasons to laugh can make life more healthy, as well as more fun. This is yet another activity best done with a buddy.

Financial Assistance is Available

Most people worry to some degree about running out of money, managing money, or calculating and paying taxes in a timely and accurate manner. There are many local, state, and federal programs to help with planning and managing financial concerns.

• Help with the cost of prescriptions can be found via the Extra Help program through Medicare in some states. Other states have their own programs.
• Seniors and all adults may experience stress when faced with financial and other types of decisions.
• The IRS sponsors free tax help clinics for seniors. These can be quite helpful since many seniors have complex situations involving pensions, IRAs, or pre-death insurance benefits. Having free help from an expert can make the challenge of tax preparation less daunting.

Use Technology to your Advantage

While it’s difficult to visit in person fr

equently, if you live a great distance from your loved one, the internet can be a great help. Using Google Meet, Webex, Zoom, or another online program you can be in touch with family members who live almost anywhere. The internet is also a good way to shop, learn, and connect with others.

• Take some time to make sure your loved one is comfortable using the internet. Sometimes technology classes for seniors can be helpful, as well as social opportunities.
• Click for info on a useful tool for combining digital documents for your loved one so that they’re easier to find.
• Having a weekly online call with your senior loved one is a great way to stay in touch, share family news, and monitor how they are doing. While “Zoom fatigue” is something that happens to people of all ages, there are ways to counter it.
• Although an online meeting is better than no connection, it’s important to supplement it with ordinary phone calls, letters via email or US mail, and the occasional in-person visit.

Although living near the senior you care about is the easiest way to stay in touch and be of help, there are many resources for those who are at a distance. Make sure that you keep your loved one in the loop when making decisions that will affect them, and take advantage of the many programs and options available.

For exceptional services for seniors, those with disabilities, and those needing companionship, visit Polish Care Services today.

Credit: June Duncan

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Types of Care Options for Seniors: Long Term Care Option

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What is Long Term Care?

Long-term care is comprised of a wide range of support services provided over an extended time period. Long-term care is not limited solely to the elderly. Forty three percent of individuals requiring this are younger than 65 years old, this may also include disabled young adults. The majority of recipients of this care are 65 years of age and older.

It can be temporary or permanent. However, this depends upon the underlying reason for the care.

Temporary long-term care (weeks or months) may include:

• Recovery from an injury or illness
• Rehabilitation after a surgical procedure
• Rehabilitation after a hospital stay
• End of life medical services

Reason for permanent (on-going) long-term care (months and years) can include:

• Chronic medical conditions
• Chronic severe pain
• Need for supervision
• Permanent disabilities
• Need for assistance with activities of daily living
• Muscular impairment caused by Parkinson’s
• Cognitive impairment which may cause brain injury, Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

Long-term care need may be instantaneous, examples are, after a car accident, a heart attack or stroke. However, the care need increases gradually, as individuals age and become more frail or as disability or an illness worsens.

Although there are advanced studies, It is difficult to predict who will need long-term care and the duration of care needs, there are several factors that increase the risk of the need for long-term care

• As individuals age, they become more frail
• Women generally live longer, and often need long-term care for a periods twice as long as men.
• An individual’s risk increases with poor diet and lack of exercise, lifestyle and habits,
• Health and family history also plays a vital role.

Categories and Levels

Most long-term care falls into the category of personal or custodial care, rather than medical or skilled care. Personal care provides assistance with what is generally referred to as activities of daily living and/or provides for the supervision of an individual who is cognitively impaired.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) include the normal activities necessary to live at home. These personal care activities generally fall into four category types:

• Meal Preparation includes the planning and preparation of meals
• Household Chores includes routine tasks necessary for the upkeep of a home such as cleaning, laundry and yard maintenance
• Personal Hygiene includes bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting
• Errands and Transportation includes driving and shopping assistance

It’s easy to take being able to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) for granted until you or family member experiences a chronic or degenerative condition and can no longer accomplish these tasks alone.

There are four different levels or frequency of care Long-term care:

• Occasional assistance is performed a few times a month
• Minimal assistance may only be needed two to three times per week
• Significant assistance may be needed as often as five times per week
• Maximum assistance might be needed daily.

In-Home Care

Long-term care in the home is often provided by care providers or caregivers who may be enlisted to provide housekeeping, personal care and other functions to enhance the quality of life for the individual.

Long-Term Care Insurance

With the increasing costs of this care, this insurance may be the best way to ensure as you or your loved one get older, your long-term care needs are met and your assets are protected.

Polish Care Services provides trained and experienced caregivers to assist seniors or disabled in their home or care facilities. Call 860-255-8278 to see how our Polish Care Services caregivers can assist you or your loved one. long term care insurance options for seniors

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5 Tips to Help First-Time Caregiver Manage Their Responsibilities

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Being a first-time caregiver can be an incredibly rewarding experience. However, it can also be overwhelming. This could be due to caregiver anxiety which makes you feel uncertain regarding the level of care you are providing your loved one. But it’s important to remember that you can always reach out to family or even professionals to assist you in caregiving. In this article by Polish Care Services, we’ll explore the best strategies new caregivers can adopt to avoid burnout while providing the highest level of care to their loved ones.

Educate Yourself About the Condition 

The type and duration of care required will depend on the condition(s) your loved one is diagnosed with. A good first step will be to learn as much as you can regarding their symptoms and the best caregiving strategies you can adopt. For instance, if your loved one has a mobility disability, moving their bedroom to the ground floor and adjusting the home’s layout to their needs will make their lives much easier.

Reading articles published by medical expertsabout their condition will be the best resource for education. Additionally, you can search for videos to learn from other caregivers regarding the best strategies used by them at home.

Leverage Technology to Complement Healthcare 

Many caregivers refrain from allowing their loved one to be home alone owing to the fear of safety. While their concern is justified, in the long run, this has a negative impact on mental health owing to the lack of socialization and isolation.

However, now there are various types of technology caregivers can install in their homes, such as cameras to monitor the property and check up on your loved one (if they are comfortable having cameras indoors). In addition, remote-controlled locks that send you a notification each time the main/back door is opened, as reported by Vivint, and motion sensor lights, allowing your loved ones to move freely around the home without the need to reach a switch.

Maintain Accurate Paperwork 

Another area where you should leverage the power of technology is to maintain healthcare paperwork regarding your loved one. In addition to test results and doctor prescriptions, you can also include personal notes regarding your loved one’s response to therapy or other caregiving tools. Not only will this help you improve the level of care, but doctors can utilize this information to provide better treatment as well.

The best way to keep paperwork organized will be to use a document management system, for which you can try this free resource!

Ask for Help 

Caregiving is a tough job to manage alone, especially for family caregivers. Hence, rather than burning yourself out trying to manage everything single-handedly, reach out to those around you for help.

This can include family members who can pitch in with caregiving, whether that be to give your loved one company, drive them to doctor appointments, or help out with home chores such as buying groceries, etc. Taking help from others will help to free up time in your day to dedicate towards self-care, hobbies, exercise, or to learn more about the condition.

Practice Self-Care Activities

Constantly neglecting your health needs is bound to lead to caregiver burnout. Which, according to Cleveland Clinic, can lead to changes in sleep patterns, mood disruptions, loss of appetite, reduced cognitive function, and more. The best way to keep caregiver burnout at bay is to dedicate at least an hour a day towards self-care activities such as:

● Exercise – which serves as a great way to stay physically and mentally fit.

● Meditation – that helps you gain control over your thoughts, helping to keep stress in check

● Music/Dance or other hobbies – engaging in activities that provide a sense of fulfillment has a positive impact on mood and self-esteem.

Trying to manage caregiving duties single-handedly is not something first-time caregivers should try. Given the importance caregiving plays in your loved ones’ life, it’s best to ask for help and take assistance from professionals. Additionally, remember to maintain notes and share them periodically with the doctor.

Credit: June Duncan

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Is It Time to Move Closer to Your Senior Relative? How to Tell

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It can be hard to be apart from your family as they age. You might be thinking about moving closer to a senior relative who lives in another city or state just because you want to see them more often, or perhaps they now need a little more support to get through the day-to-day activities they used to manage with ease. Moving for a loved one is a big decision, and there are many things that need to be taken into consideration before making the move. Today, Polish Care Services shares some tips to help you decide if it’s time for you to be closer to your senior relative.

Ask Yourself These Questions

You can start by asking some probing questions. Your answers will help reveal whether it’s time to be closer to your senior loved one.

● Is their current caretaker stressed out?

● Do you feel guilty for not visiting more often?

● How much can you afford to spend to relocate?

● Is your loved one no longer capable of living on their own (i.e., cooking, cleaning, taking care of personal hygiene)?

After you’ve asked yourself these questions, it’s time to consider what your senior relative thinks about you being closer to them.

Ask for Their Opinion

It is important to speak with your family member before making any decisions. They might not be as receptive as you think. If it’s determined that they require your care and assistance, you need to consider how they feel about you moving away from your current life, friends, and neighbors. If this is a difficult decision for you, it could be even more difficult for them. Although you may feel like it’s time to move closer together for the sake of convenience, they might not want to go through such a big change, especially if you have your own family coming with you.

You also need to consider how much care or assistance your senior relative needs. Do they need someone there all the time? Do they require an in-home nurse? Is there an adult daycare center near them? If so, does it have space available? There are many questions you’ll have to answer before moving closer.

Perhaps there are technologies and services that, if used, can allow your loved one to live independently for awhile longer. Consider hiring a gardener or housecleaner to help with daily tasks, and look for meal services to reduce the amount of cooking your loved one needs to manage. You can install a security system that allows you and your loved one to monitor the house. There are even options that will let you check on your loved one if they don’t answer the phone.

Discuss Living Situations

If you decide to make the move, think hard about your living situation. Will you buy or rent a house? Will you and your aging loved one move in together or will you live separately while still providing care? Don’t make these decisions for your loved one. Instead, talk with them and really listen to their desires and fears. AgingCare.com emphasizes the importance of really listening and being open to your loved one’s thoughts. Be sure to discuss the following questions: Is their current home no longer sufficient for their care? Will you need to buy a home that accommodates them, you, and your family? And if so, how will that play into your decision to move?

Discuss these possibilities – including asking pertinent questions and taking appropriate considerations regarding buying a new home – with your family and get their input on the best course of action to care for your senior relative. It’s important that everyone is on the same page, as this will help reduce stress and conflict.

Preparing for the Move

If you are uncertain whether this move will be long or short term, renting might be your best option, especially if your entire family won’t be moving with you. Not only will renting make it easier to pack up and move when or if the time is right, it can be less expensive and reduce the responsibilities of home ownership while you’re also helping your loved one. For instance, you can rent an apartment in Farmington for as little as $1,550 a month.

If you choose to buy a house, your debt-to-income ratio will be a key factor in your ability to qualify for a home loan. Lenders look at your income and the amount of money you spend on expenses each month, and they compare that to your debt. To determine how much of your income would be left over to put toward a mortgage payment, you can use an online mortgage calculator. Be sure to factor in what you will do with your current home, if you own one.

Your lender will also want to know if you have any recurring monthly obligations, like car payments or student loans. Generally, lenders will prefer to see at least 36% of your income available for your mortgage payment. A larger percentage means there is less risk for defaulting on the loan.

When planning for your move, remember to factor in ancillary expenses such as moving services. And if you will be moving your aging loved one, too, it’s a good idea to consider hiring a moving company that’s experienced with moving seniors and, preferably, has a senior move specialist on staff.

Figuring Out Your Work Situation

If you are moving and caretaking will become your full-time job, then make sure you can financially handle that shift. If you still need to work, consider looking for part-time work in your new area or search for a remote position you can do while caretaking. However, if you are a business owner, you will need to decide how the move will affect your business. You could choose to keep things as is while working remotely, which requires the least amount of transitioning. But if you choose to move your entire business, including employees and office or storefront, be sure to notify your employees right away and give them options regarding relocation packages or switching to remote.

Move Forward

Deciding to move closer to an aging loved one is a big decision, particularly if you’ll have to buy or rent a home or even relocate your business. Be sure to include your family members and your loved one in this decision; however, if you feel that your relative’s health or well-being is in jeopardy, act quickly. This transition may be difficult for all of you, so try to respond with kindness and patience as everyone adjusts. Remembering that you are making these changes for your loved one’s best interests can help you to persevere during tough times.

Polish Care Services provides high quality service, compassion and professionalism for cleaning, and caregivers that will meet or exceed expectations. Call 860-255-8278.

Credit: June Duncan

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How Seniors Can Handle Common Health Care Challenges

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According to statistics, senior citizens use medical services far more frequently than younger people. Unfortunately, though, senior citizens often face major challenges as they navigate the health care system. Medical errors, inaccessible providers, and high costs of care are just a few of the most common problems. Seniors who want to address these challenges can do so through self-advocacy and education. Here are some tips from Polish Care Services to get you started!

Be Your Own Biggest Advocate

Self-advocacy is an important skill for every person, and it’s even more vital for seniors who are seeking medical care. You may hesitate to question a doctor’s opinion or feel timid about asking questions, but these are important steps to take toward handling your health care. If you struggle to advocate for yourself during medical appointments, consider asking a friend or family member to come with you to your next appointment.

Other ways that you can advocate for your health include reviewing your medical bills for errors, familiarizing yourself with your health insurance benefits, and maintaining your own copies of medical records. If you decide to keep your own records, you should ensure that you have copies of medical images, too, such as x-rays. You can keep all of these images in one file by uploading them with a free online tool, combining them, and downloading the file.

Remember that self-advocacy sometimes means that you must hold yourself accountable, too. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with work and feel as though you have no time to invest in physical activity. It doesn’t take much effort to commit to small changes, though, such as walking during a lunch break or taking the stairs rather than the elevator.

Consider All of Your Options

Seniors should never settle for subpar care. You may be tempted to do this, though, if you’ve been seeing the same medical provider for a while or if switching seems like it would be too much trouble. If you’re unsatisfied with the treatment you’re receiving, you need to consider whether it’s time to seek out a different doctor. Having a positive relationship with your health care provider can correlate to better health outcomes, so it’s worth investigating.

In other cases, you may not want to switch providers, but perhaps you do want to seek out a second opinion. Doing so is an effective way to advocate for your health and ensure that you are making informed decisions. To pursue a second opinion, ask your current provider for a referral, or simply search online for other doctors in your area.

As you’re wading through the challenges of the medical system, consider whether managing your own care is the best option. In some cases, it isn’t, and a senior living facility can alleviate the stress surrounding medical care.

Something else to consider: as you’ve probably already realized, these matters can be extremely complex, and jostling a great deal of paperwork and medical records can quickly become rather confusing. To keep things a bit more manageable, try combining your files whenever possible. If you’re not super tech-savvy, this is how you can add additional pages to your PDF with ease.

Seniors Can Care for Their Health Through Self-Advocacy

Despite a lifetime of experience and knowledge, it can still be difficult for seniors to advocate for themselves. It’s essential to do so when dealing with health care, though. Seniors can make progress towards self-advocacy and protect their health by maintaining their own medical records and investing in physical activity.

Polish Care Services provides a high quality of service, compassion and professionalism for cleaning, and caregivers that will meet or exceed expectations. Call 860-255-8278.

Credit: June Duncan

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Strong Habits for Retirement Health and Happiness

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Want to know the secret to happy, healthy aging? It doesn’t involve restrictive dieting or a fastidious fitness plan. Taking control of your physical and mental health is surprisingly simple! Move your body in different ways, keep your mind active, create a living environment that reflects your lifestyle goals, and strive to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Aging well isn’t about all-or-nothing wellness routines. It’s about the small steps you take every day towards overall improvements in your quality of life. Below, we share some tips to help you take control of your whole-body health!

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Consider Starting a Business

Having a sense of purpose is essential for a happy retirement. It’s easy to feel like life is a little meaningless after leaving a long-term job, but it doesn’t have to be this way. You just have to find new ways to fill your life with meaning! Starting a business is a great way to find fulfillment in retirement. And thanks to technology, launching a business has never been easier. There are countless resources online that can help you navigate the steps ahead, like registering your business and filing a DBA name. A DBA (doing business as) name will allow you to operate a sole proprietorship under a fictitious name rather than using your personal name.

Stay Mobile for Quality of Life

As people age, they often face difficulties with mobility. This can make everyday activities like getting out of bed, going to the bathroom, and even taking a walk around the block seem impossible. For many seniors, this loss of mobility can lead to a decline in their overall quality of life. However, there are a number of mobility products that can help seniors stay active and independent. For example, grab bars and bath chairs can provide support and stability when bathing. Walkers and canes can help with balance and stability when walking. And scooters and power chairs can help with transportation. By using these products, seniors can maintain their independence and improve their quality of life.

Try New Hobbies

Learning new hobbies is another great way to keep yourself busy in retirement while challenging your mind. Now is your chance to try out all of those hobbies you never had time for when you had a full-time job! Plus, studies have shown that maintaining hobbies in retirement can have a number of benefits for older adults. These include everything from increased mental stimulation to improved physical health. Social activities can also help combat feelings of isolation and loneliness, which are common among retirees. So whether you’re interested in learning a new language or taking up an instrument, make sure to take advantage of your newfound free time by finding hobbies that you enjoy.

Engage in Different Types of Exercise

One form of exercise may not be enough to support your whole-body health. Seniors—and people of any age, for that matter—can benefit from four main types of exercise. Try to fit all four of these exercise types into your regular fitness routine so you can maintain your strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance:

● Strength training will strengthen your muscles, boost your metabolism, and support your bone health.

● Endurance exercises increase your heart rate to support your cardio and respiratory health.

● Flexibility exercises will protect your mobility by keeping your muscles and joints flexible and strong.

● Balance exercises can help to reduce your fall risk and help you live a more independent life.

Be Mindful of Your Diet

Diet also plays an important role in senior wellness. Try to be mindful about what you’re putting into your body and make choices that will help you avoid issues with malnutrition, a common problem among older adults. Due to age-related changes, you might need to adjust your diet to ensure you get all the vitamins and minerals you need. Try to get most of your calories from nutrient-rich food like fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and lean protein.

Adopting healthy habits is the key to getting the most out of your golden years. When you strive for a healthy lifestyle, you’ll feel happier, think more clearly, and have more energy. You could start a business to put your skills to use, focus on making sure you stay mobile, try new hobbies, eat healthy and vary your exercise routines. All of these and more pave the way for better living and overall wellness in this new chapter.

Credit: June Duncan

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