Advice for Older People, Caregiver Advice

Helping the Elderly this Christmas

Our Guidelines for Helping an Elderly Friend, Neighbour or Relative this Christmas

Elderly person Christmas decorating

Tackling Loneliness among the Elderly at Christmas

Christmas is about love and joy and spending time with family and friends but it can be extremely difficult for elderly people as it can remind them about the loss of loved ones or their decline in health. Elderly people have an increased risk of suffering from depression and around the festive season depression and suicide heighten. Depression affects around 15-20% of people aged 65 and over.

Around 60% of elderly people in Ireland aged 80 and over live alone. Help the elderly people in your life this Christmas and avoid them becoming lonely and depressed. Loneliness can have an impact on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people.

If you know of an elderly person invite them for a meal or ask them if they would like help with food shopping, make them feel connected at this time of year. See here previous blog about Loneliness and the elderly: https://myhomecareie.wpengine.com/age-friendly-advice/tackling-loneliness-among-elderly/

How to Help the Elderly around the Festive Season

Reach Out

If you have an elderly relative, neighbour or friend that lives alone make sure to check in on them and see if they are OK. Take them to visit family members, call in to help them light the fire. Reaching out to a senior with small gestures, you would be surprised at just how much it could mean to them.

Plan Ahead

If you are a carer by occupation, invite your friends and family or the friends and family of the person that you are caring for around. Make sure to plan this in advance as people can have a busy schedule around Christmas. This will keep their morale high and also give you a sense of satisfaction for spreading the festive cheer. Organise a Christmas game, Christmas caroling, tea and mince pies or ask the senior what they would like to do.

Involve Them

Get them involved. It is important that seniors feel a part of the holidays. Elderly people love to feel that they are useful and don’t want to feel like a burden. Ask them to help with things such as meal preparations like the Christmas Pudding, picking Christmas cards or helping to decorate the house. Be aware of what they can do and encourage them to do what they are capable of.

Make Memories

Memories and old traditions can be painful for older people. Create new memories and traditions and make them feel present this Christmas to take their mind off the past. Make a dish that they would have normally made, use different ingredients if desired. Bring them to mass on Christmas Eve and invite family, take them for a drive to look at all the Christmas lights.

Respect their routines

If an elderly person is used to eating meals and going to bed at certain hours try and respect this and do your best to accommodate them. Staying up later than what they are used to or eating at later times results in tiredness and hunger which is unsettling to anyone not just older people.

Reminisce

Take the time to listen to an older person that feels like they need to reminisce about days gone by, deceased loved ones, childhood memories and Christmas memories or traditions that have passed. At social gatherings, encourage them to talk about their stories, elderly people love to share of days gone by and young people love hearing about what it was like ‘in my day’.

Ask for help

If you don’t ask you won’t receive. It is foolish to think that you can do everything yourself. To care for someone else you must care for yourself too. Ask friends or family to help out with what you know they are good at or enjoy. If someone enjoys shopping ask them to bring out the elderly person and help them with seasonal gifts, suggest they do some online shopping together if mobility is low. Get young grandchildren to call and keep them busy with games etc.

Healthy choices

Senior citizens especially, need to drink plenty of water to avoid the risk of dehydration. At Christmas, everyone tends to indulge when it comes to food. If you are serving a big dinner, consider making a light breakfast/lunch as you don’t want the elderly person to be sick. Drinking alcohol with certain types of medication can have side effects, make sure to be wary of this.

Finance

Buying Christmas presents can be a struggle for elderly people as they have a fixed income. Suggest a Family Kris Kringle so that they are not stressed about money and having to buy presents for everyone.

Christmas Cards

Sending Christmas cards can be a difficult task for elderly people as they might not remember addresses, they might have arthritis and can’t hold a pen or their sight might be poorly. Offer to write and send Christmas cards for an older person this Christmas.

Decor

Be careful with outside lights and interior decorations. Keep in mind any obstacles which may cause an injury to an elderly person in your home.

Falls

Icy conditions can result in elderly people having falls which can have serious physical impact and health implications. Make sure to salt their drive or pour hot water on their footpath or steps.

Plan Activities

As a person ages, energy and mobility decreases. A full day out walking around streets and shopping centres is not realistic. Try some online shopping, watch Christmas cookery shows and attempt to make the meals, watch old Christmas movies or organise a Christmas tea party for them. If they wish to go around the shops, make sure a wheelchair is accessible.

Keep Active

Exercise is important all year round and Christmas shouldn’t be any different. Bring an elderly person to an outdoor market, walk around a shopping centre to do some window shopping, go for a walk in the park. This is not only good for their physical health but also for their mental and social well-being.

Avoid Cold and Flu

See here previous blog about avoiding colds and flu this winter: https://myhomecareie.wpengine.com/health-nutrition-advice/avoid-colds-and-flu/

If you would like to get involved in a charitable organisation for elderly people and offer your time and friendship, why not try Friends of the Elderly Ireland. Our previous trip with members of Friends of the Elderly: https://myhomecareie.wpengine.com/advice-for-older-people/myhomecare-proudly-sponsoring-friends-of-the-elderly/

Health & Nutrition Advice

Avoid Colds and Flu This Winter

Follow our tips and Avoid Colds and Flu This Winter

Exercising to avoid colds and flu

Avoid Colds and Flu

It is not always possible to Avoid Colds and Flu but there are ways of reducing your risk of becoming infected this winter. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps to build a strong immune system which can prevent catching viral infections. Follow these tips to avoid the dreaded winter bug.

From the inside….

Nutrition

A healthy diet is essential for well being and fighting off infection. Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, protein and fibre. Cold weather and dark evenings can leave us craving comfort foods. Try making dishes like warms salads and stews.

Hydration

Stay hydrated to help flush toxins from the body and also strengthens the immune system.

Multivitamins

Colds and Flu are most common in winter and spring as we naturally lack vitamins during these seasons. Because of our northern latitude there is not enough sunlight between November and March to produce the recommended amount of Vitamin D in Ireland, leaving our vitamin D levels at their lowest. Avoid Colds and Flu This Winter and get your daily intake of Vitamin D through foods such as oily fish, eggs, fortified cereals or Vitamin D supplements. For more on Vitamin D, read our blog: https://myhomecareie.wpengine.com/health-nutrition-advice/new-study-shows-vitamin-d-aids-prevention-cold-flu/

Immune-Boosting Foods

Avoid Colds and Flu with a strong immune system

Look after your physical and mental health…

Sleep

Sleep aids in the repairing and strengthening of the immune system. Not getting enough sleep can leave you feeling tired and unwell, weakening the immune system and leaving the body vulnerable to attack.

Regular exercise

Dark evenings and cold damp weather can make it more difficult to go outside and exercise. Try doing some exercises at home or join a gym. Research shows that people who exercise regularly are less likely to catch colds and flu. Exercise increases blood-flow and circulation, boosting the immune system. It also helps to flush bacteria out of the lungs.

Stress

You are more at risk of catching colds and flu if you are stressed as stress weakens the immune system. Take steps to reduce your stress and do what makes you feel calm – practice mindfulness, take deep breaths, socialise or go for a walk outside.

Coping with cold & flu symptoms

Avoid Colds and Flu with honey and lemon

Get plenty of rest.
Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and keep temperature down. Drinking Warm liquids help to loosen secretion, reducing further complications like bronchitis etc.
Take anti-microbial foods which help to fight infection naturally such as garlic, ginger, turmeric, honey and more.
Hygiene – Germs can enter the body by through the eyes, nose and mouth. Wash your hands regularly and use disposable tissues to prevent the spread of bacteria and virus.

For more information on the flu visit: https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/F/Flu-influenza-%2C-seasonal/Symptoms-of-seasonal-flu.html

Advice for Older People

Palliative Care Week 2017

Helping to Raise Awareness Around National Palliative Care Week 2017

Palliative Care Week 2017

Palliative Care Week is running from September 3rd-9th this year. The All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) want people to understand palliative care and learn more about it. This years campaign theme which is sponsored by The HSE is – ‘Palliative Care – What have you heard?’.

There is a common misconception that palliative care is the last option for when other treatments are unsuccessful. For many, palliative care ultimately means death. At Myhomecare we are helping to support the campaign in raising awareness around Palliative Care and in the hope to better educate people on palliative care.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative Care involves a team including pharmacists, physicians, nurses, physiotherapists etc. The aim of palliative care is to provide the best quality of life possible for people experiencing life-limiting illness through preventing and relieving suffering. Palliative care not only aids the physical needs of the patient, it also offers support to their psychological, social, spiritual and emotional needs. It lends support to the family in dealing with the patients illness or bereavement.

By treating a person, not a disease, you will always win.

Who needs it?

Palliative care is available for people of any age at any stage of their illness. The types of patients of palliative care include those with serious, life-long or life-threatening illness for example those with MS, cancer, dementia and HIV etc.

Why should I understand palliative care?

It is extremely important for people to be informed and educated that there is support for people with illness. Choosing palliative care early in illness can help avoid complications and better manage a patients illness. Talking about death is never easy, but a family member or close friend might some day need or greatly benefit from palliative care so it is extremely important to understand what it entails.

Myhomecare and Palliative Care

Our Philosophy – People are happier and live longer in the comfort of their own homes. People are more comfortable surrounded by familiarity, their belongings, friends and family. At Myhomecare, we aim to provide independent living in a safe and comfortable environment. We provide services for regular home help, advanced home help or nursing care. We tailor make packages to suit the individual needs of each client.

You have the power to change someones life, don't ever waste it.

What’s on?

Friday 8th September Milford Care Centre, Limerick.

Will have information stands in the Crescent Shopping Centre and Dunnes Store Shopping Centre. They are running a competition where one lucky winner will receive two Ed Sheeran tickets. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/MilfordCareCentre/ on palliative care week.

Wednesday 13th September Advance Care Planning Event

Seamus Heaney Home Place, 10 – 2pm organised on the behalf of Regional Palliative Care Programme, ‘Palliative Care in Partnership’.

Thursday 14th September Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice

Enjoy a cup of Bewley’s coffee in support for your local hospice/home-care service of choice. 25 years running, this annual fundraiser that takes place in locations big and small all over Ireland has raised over €34,000,000. All funds raised go towards the hospice and homecare group of your choice and have life-changing impacts. Find out more: https://hospicecoffeemorning.ie/about-coffee-mornings/

For more information:

http://www.thepalliativehub.com/

https://myhomecareie.wpengine.com/caregiver-advice/palliative-care/

Age Friendly Advice

Tackling Loneliness Among the Elderly

Tackling Loneliness Among the Elderly

Elderly People in Ireland

In Ireland, 60% of elderly people aged 80 and over live alone and 1/3 of people aged 65 and over are living on their own. These numbers will likely climb as families are getting smaller, divorces etc. We may be living longer but we still age and as our mobility decreases we need looking after.

Causes of Loneliness

Loneliness in older people can caused for a number of reasons – bereavement, location, finance, health etc.

The Effects of Loneliness

Loneliness affects the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people. It is not just an emotion, it is a chronic condition and can have devastating health consequences among our older generation. According to health figures, it is believed to be twice as damaging to a persons health as obesity and it has the same affect as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Being lonely also makes the elderly a lot more susceptible to dementia and cardiovascular disease. Limited social interaction also means likelihood of less going out or exercising outdoors and lack of exercise has many side effects such as low mood and depression.

What can we do?

As younger people can lose their patience with the elderly, this leaves them feeling like they are a burden and it prohibits them to ask for help. We need to reassure our elderly relatives/friends that they should not be afraid to ask for our help and that they are more than deserving of our support.

Check in with the older people in the community, make a phone call to an elderly relative, you would be surprised at how much your company can make their day. A little bit of light is all it takes to brighten someones day.

Tips and Actions for Helping Elderly People Alleviate Loneliness

Listen – Listening is something we don’t do enough, even for the people we love. Listening to someone who is feeling lonely will make them feel special and cared for and like what they are saying really matters.
Social inclusion – Help them get involved in socializing by helping them sign up for elderly groups that have activities and days out. You could even go along with them so as they are not on their own.
Teach – One of the best classrooms is at the feet of an elderly person so let them teach you what they know and share stories of the past. This sort of thinking is good for the elderly persons brain, it will give them a sense of importance and you can learn a lot from their wisdom.