How Companion Caregivers Engage Seniors and Reduce Isolation
November 13th, 2020aging in place, Alzheimer's Care, Caregiver Employment, Caregiver job, Caregiver Service, Companion Caregiver, Dementia Care, Elderly Care, Fall Activities for Seniors, Hire CNA, Hire HHA, Hire PCA, Home Healthcare, House Cleaning, In Home Care, Janitorial Service, Long Term Care, Office Cleaning, Outdoor Activities for Seniors, Polish Care Services, Retirement Plans for Seniors, Senior Care Services, Spring Activities, Summer Activities for Seniors, Uncategorized,
Caring for Seniors: How Companion Caregivers Engage Seniors and Reduce Isolation
Seniors are prone to isolation. But the ongoing pandemic has increased the possibility of seniors becoming isolated even more. One way to reduce isolation is to connect seniors with a companion. Here is an overview of how seniors can benefit from companionship and increased engagement from companion caregivers.
What Companion Caregivers Do
The main thing that companion caregivers do for seniors is to socialize with them. They provide in home senior care on set days of the week, giving their clients something to look forward to during the week. Companion caregivers can assist seniors with household tasks like paying bills, caring for pets, and preparing meals, assist with transportation, and provide medication reminders. But it is the social aspect of their job that cannot be understated.
Companion caregivers provide a connection to the outside world, and for seniors who have difficulty leaving their house due to physical limitations or conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia, this is important.
Making Connections and Engaging
Companion caregivers help connect with seniors by engaging them in activities like taking walks together, reading together, playing games, and simply having conversations about life and family. Studies conducted in recent years have shown that taking the time to do these things matters. Care workers at nursing homes in the United Kingdom were given care champion training to help them engage residents with dementia in conversation for at least one hour a week. The care workers were given prompts and cues to help elicit conversation.
Over time, researchers found that the seniors who participated in the study had a better quality of life and were less agitated compared to using medication to reduce it. Other studies have found that creating individualized care plans and teaching seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia how to do certain tasks saw their activities of daily living go up.
Benefits of Staying Active
Engaging with seniors by using conversations and activities has shown that seniors live longer and improve memory and executive function. Companion caregivers can also provide long term care and emotional support that connecting with family and friends would normally bring and make them feel joy.
If you’re searching for a companion caregiver for your elderly loved one, reach out to Polish Care Services. We’ll match a companion caregiver to a senior that meets their needs. Reach out to us today.
Self-Care Tips For Caregivers: How To Feel Better
August 17th, 2018Alzheimer's Care, Caregiver Service, Dementia Care, Elderly Care, House Cleaning, Janitorial Service, Long Term Care, Office Cleaning, Polish Care Services Trademark, Senior Care Services,
Self-care is incredibly important for all of us; it reduces stress and anxiety, helps with fatigue and health issues, and allows us to focus on our needs in order to heal emotionally, mentally, or physically. It can be difficult to carve time out of our busy schedules to do so, however, and when you’re a caregiver, looking after your own needs can bring on feelings of guilt. Caregivers often put themselves last on their list of priorities, and unfortunately, this can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and even substance abuse.
The good news is that taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be time consuming or lead to feelings of guilt or selfishness. Finding small ways to make yourself feel good and stay healthy is easy when you know where to begin, and usually, it starts at home. Create a relaxing space that will help you feel better after a long day and reduce stress, and set aside time to do things you enjoy, such as reading or gardening.
Keep reading for more great tips on how to practice self-care when you’re a caregiver.
Keep your finances in order
Many caregivers draw from their own finances to take care of a loved one, and it can be a huge drain on your savings to continue doing so, which can lead to stress and anxiety. Keep a close eye on your finances, set a budget for both of you, and look for ways you can save money by applying for grants for home modifications and medical equipment. Look online to see what you might qualify for; you can start here.
Take a time-out
Taking the time to get away from the stress you face every day is important, and it doesn’t require a vacation; you can take a little time-out whenever you feel overwhelmed simply by finding something that relaxes you and committing to it. Whether it’s a long, hot bath, sitting down with a cup of tea or coffee, or going out in the garden to putter for a few minutes, having a go-to stress reliever will help you feel in control and will allow you to combat emotional and mental fatigue.
Find healthy ways to cope
Many caregivers find that it’s difficult to deal with the stress of taking care of a loved one every day and turn to substances for a reprieve. It’s essential that you learn how to cope with those feelings of stress in a healthy way so that they don’t overwhelm you, because relying too much on alcohol or other dangerous substances will only lead to more issues. Find a support group so you can talk to people who understand what you’re going through, or consider taking up art therapy to help you release feelings of stress and tension.
Stay connected
Taking care of someone else’s needs for 24 hours a day can lead to feelings of isolation, so it’s imperative that you stay connected with your loved ones and friends. If you’re unable to go far, set up a Skype account so you can stay in touch with the people you enjoy spending time with, and make arrangements for video calls that will allow you to see them.
As a caregiver, you have a very large responsibility, and it can easily become overwhelming physically, mentally, and emotionally. Take care of yourself and make your health a priority; exercise daily to keep up your strength, and eat well-balanced meals. Learn how to focus on your own needs so you won’t suffer burnout.
Credit: June Duncan for Polish Care Services https://polishcareservices.com
Polish Care Services Trademark
July 22nd, 2018Alzheimer's Care, Caregiver Service, Dementia Care, Elderly Care, House Cleaning, Janitorial Service, Long Term Care, Office Cleaning, Polish Care Services Trademark, Senior Care Services,
Polish Care Services was grated the trademark from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for cleaning and caregiving services. As a company that genuinely cares about our clients and what we do, this is one more effort to let us stand out as a Polish European and American company that sets high standards not only in quality of work and care, but also customer service. Thank you to all our customers, employees and those who have supported us throughout the years.