Preventing and Treating Pneumonia in Seniors

As we get older, our immune system weakens, making it easier to get sick. This is why seniors should be vigilant about staying as healthy as they can so that when an illness does hit, they’ll be able to bounce back quickly. Aside from changes in the immune system, our lungs change as we get older – it becomes more difficult to clear secretions from the lungs, making infection more likely. And of course, health conditions can compromise one’s ability to fight off infection.

Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia in Seniors

Many signs of pneumonia are similar to a bad flu or cold. However, with pneumonia, you’ll often see patients who have chest pain when they cough. Confusion or changes in mental awareness is also a symptom seen in seniors with pneumonia. Another symptom seen more often in seniors is a lower body temperature than usual. Other symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

How to Treat Pneumonia in Seniors

If you think you or your loved one has pneumonia, go to the doctor as soon as possible. They will take a chest x-ray to determine whether you have pneumonia. If you do, they may give you fluids, oxygen, and medications, depending on the severity of the case.

How to Prevent Pneumonia in Seniors

Luckily, there are ways to prevent pneumonia. One of the best ways to prevent it is to get the flu shot and the pneumonia shot. And if you smoke, work towards quitting. Smoking seriously affects the lungs and makes them more susceptible to infection. Finally, practice good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle. It’s important to get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise so that your body can fight off viruses and bacteria. And don’t forget to wash your hands!

Preventing and Treating Pneumonia in Seniors; Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help

If your senior is recovering from pneumonia or another illness, Comfort Keepers can help them get back to normal life. At Comfort Keepers, our caregivers provide in-home care services including light housework, mobility assistance, and 24-hour care. We only hire caregivers that we ourselves would let care for our family, so you know that you’re getting high-quality services.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

Combating Loneliness in Seniors

How are we combating loneliness in seniors? | Many seniors – especially those who live alone – might find themselves feeling lonely. Seniors who are unable to get out by themselves may feel especially alone. Loneliness can affect a senior’s physical health as well as their mental health. In fact, loneliness can impact or even contribute to some health conditions, such as depression, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Luckily, there are ways to combat loneliness.

If you or your loved one has been feeling lonely, here are some ways to start feeling better:

Make Transportation Available

One of the best ways to promote socializing and combat loneliness is by having a method of transportation for your senior. One way to do this is to have an in-home caregiver or transportation service provide rides to and from places. If your loved one lives near family, have family members take turns providing transportation. These family members can even attend the social event with your senior.

Consider a Pet

A pet is a great way to bring some purpose and responsibility into one’s life. If they’re interested, encourage your loved one to get a pet – whether it be a dog, a cat, or even a hamster. Many people find that having a pet improves their quality of life. Visiting a local shelter can be a great outing too.

Host a Get-Together

If your loved one could use some company, have them host a get together in their home! This can be a fun way to socialize. They can plan out what kind of food they want to have and what sort of activities they’ll do. If they don’t want to do it at their home, a get-together at a local restaurant or attraction can be a great way to get out of the house and spend time with friends.

Learn a New Hobby

Along with loneliness often comes boredom. If your loved one needs something new to do, suggest a hobby for them to try. What’s great about hobbies is there is a social element to many of them. For example, your senior could join a choir, learn Tai Chi or yoga, learn to knit or crochet, or learn how to play bridge. This will give them something to look forward to and a new way to meet friends.

Use or Learn More About Technology

While some may think that the internet is just for young people, many seniors use the internet to meet friends and to learn new things. For example, your loved one could join a social media group about their favorite hobby, or join a website for seniors who are looking for friends or relationships. You might be surprised at how many seniors are active online. And if your loved one doesn’t have much experience using the internet, teaching them can be a great bonding moment.

Implement one or a few of these tips and help your loved one improve their quality of life today.

Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help Seniors Combat Loneliness

At Comfort Keepers^®, we create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

Considering Respite Care

Considering Respite Care | If you’re the primary caregiver for your senior family member, then you know that it can be a rewarding yet emotionally exhausting experience. While it’s important to care for your loved one, it’s also important to pay attention to how you’re feeling and care for yourself, as well. Many caregivers will suffer from compassion fatigue at least once during their time as a caregiver. Compassion fatigue is when a caregiver spends so much time on the person being cared for without taking the time to focus on themselves, to the point of exhaustion. This often ends in the caregiver feeling decreased empathy.

If you’re a caregiver, here are some ways to recognize and prevent compassion fatigue:

Know the Symptoms

Caregivers who are having compassion fatigue may experience a variety of symptoms, the biggest one being decreased empathy. Other symptoms may include feeling physically or mentally exhausted, feelings of dread or guilt, irritability, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping or making decisions. Someone dealing with compassion fatigue may have trouble finding meaning in caregiving and may isolate themselves. Some caregivers may even deny that they’re feeling compassion fatigue. If left untreated for too long, they may start resenting the person they are caring for.

If you’re a caregiver, regularly check in with how you’re feeling. By paying attention to how you’re feeling – and giving yourself breaks when you need them – you can prevent family relationship strains and you’ll be feeling better.

What to Do

If you’ve been noticing these symptoms, you might be wondering what you should do. Well, the first step is noticing and acknowledging these feelings. Then, determine what you need in order to de-stress. This can look different for everyone. For some, just spending 10 minutes a day on a walk or meditating may help. Others might try to spend one evening a week socializing with friends. Or they might find writing in a journal, finding a caregiver support group, or talking to a counselor to be helpful.

If you’ve been meaning to do these things but don’t feel that you can leave your loved one at home alone, consider working with a respite caregiver. A respite caregiver can take your place while you run errands, take a vacation, or simply need some time to yourself.

Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help

At Comfort Keepers, we understand that sometimes family members need time to practice self-care. That’s why we offer respite care services that can reduce the burden of caring for a loved one. While caring for a family member can be very rewarding, it’s important that you don’t forget about your needs. If you’re interested in working with Comfort Keepers, call or contact us online today.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

Consider Respite Care

Respite Care and Your Loved One | Taking care of a loved one can be a fulfilling, joyful experience. It can feel good to take care of someone who took care of you for many years, and oftentimes, giving care to a family member can bring you closer together.

However, taking care of a family member, especially if it’s around the clock, can be demanding emotionally and physically. If you’re caring for a family member, you may find yourself feeling drained or emotionally exhausted. Maybe you haven’t had time to care for yourself and do the things that you enjoy doing.

If this is the case, respite care may be an option. Respite care is temporary care provided by a professional to relieve a family member or primary caregiver from their responsibilities. Respite care is available for anywhere from just a few hours up to extended periods of time, like a few weeks. Respite care allows the primary caregiver to relax and recharge while having the peace of mind that their loved one is being cared for.

Many primary caregivers feel guilty when they are doing something for themselves instead of caring for their loved one. However, in order to provide the best care, it’s important for you to take breaks every so often. Caregiving can be stressful and can even bring on feelings of resentment. More than likely, the person you’re caring for will pick up on this. Plus, it’s a good change of pace for your loved one. It’s likely that your loved one doesn’t have many new visitors, so bringing in a new guest can be valuable and exciting for them.

There are a few different options for respite care. Some family members use a nursing home or an adult daycare center. Others prefer to keep their loved one in the comfort of their own home and bring in a caregiver. Either way, make sure that your loved one is included in the conversation. Their comfort and happiness should be the priority.

With respite care, the primary caregiver will be able to relax and re-energize. They will also be able to spend time with other family members or participate in hobbies. This can relieve the stress, guilt, and resentment that can come along with being a full-time caregiver for a family member.

Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help

At Comfort Keepers^®, offers respite care for caregivers who need it. Our caregivers will come right to your loved one’s home, so there’s no need to transport them to a new and unfamiliar place. Our caregivers are held to the highest of caregiving standards so you can be sure that your loved one is in good hands

We create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

What is Respite Care?

Considering Respite Care This Holiday Season | Respite care is the temporary transfer of a primary caregiver’s responsibilities to someone else, who is usually a professional caregiver or another family member or friend. Primary caregivers will, at some point throughout their caregiving, need relief. Whether it be a few hours a day, once a week, or for a longer period of time, having someone available for respite care is crucial to your caregiver’s health.

What You Should Know When Caring for a Loved One

While it can be rewarding to care for a loved one, many caregivers find that their care declines in quality when they themselves become sick or unwell. Caring for another person is important, but it’s also good to remember to take care of yourself as well. This is especially important if your loved one has a long-term or severe illness. When someone you love needs 24/7 care, it can be hard to take time for yourself.

Comfort Keepers, along with Clear Care, partnered with Stanford Center on Longevity and Stanford University Psychology Department on a study about older family caregivers and their wellbeing.

They found several things – first, caring for someone with a mild illness had an emotional wellbeing greater than that of young adults, and that emotionally, they felt the same as their peers. However, when caring for someone with a severe illness, the caregiver had a lower sense of well-being than their peers. Researchers were able to make a connection between the lower sense of well-being and the inability to pursue one’s own goals and hobbies. So, while caring for someone with a mild illness did not negatively affect the caregiver’s well-being, caring for someone with a more severe illness did.

Caregivers can have a lot of stress on their shoulders, especially when they have to sacrifice their career or lifestyle. However, many caregivers feel like caregiving gives them a sense of purpose and can bring a lot of fulfillment to their lives – as long as they are able to take the time to care for themselves and their own needs.

If you’ve been caring for a family member and are feeling stressed or burnt out, hiring a respite caregiver can be a great way to ensure that your loved one is still getting the care they need while giving yourself a much-needed break.

Considering Respite Care This Holiday Season? Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help

At Comfort Keepers^®, we understand that it can be a tough transition of trusting someone else to care for your loved one. Here at Comfort Keepers, we want to make sure that you’re confident in our ability to care for your family member. Each care recipient gets a customized care plan to ensure that they get the highest quality care possible.

We create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

Checking in on a loved one this holiday season | You may have some concerns or worries about how your loved one is doing. Are they eating well? Are they able to complete the daily tasks they need to do each day? Since many seniors live alone, it can be hard to know how they are doing unless you check in with them regularly.

The holiday season is a good time to check in on your loved one and make sure that they’re getting the things that they need.

Use this checklist to determine whether you need to make any adjustments to your loved one’s routine.

Look – Checking in on both your loved one’s appearance and the appearance of the home can be good indicators of how things are going. Does your loved one seem happy? Is their home clean? Look for things like dirty clothing, dirty dishes, or messy living spaces.

Listen – How is your loved one speaking to you? Have you noticed any changes in speech or behavior? If so, this can sometimes be a sign that something else is going on. Ask them how they’ve been spending their time and note whether they’ve been keeping up with their regular activities.

Smell – Smell can be a good indicator of whether your loved one is able to keep themselves and their surroundings clean. If your loved one smells clean, chances are they are having no problem taking care of their hygiene.

Taste – Tasting some of your loved one’s food can help you determine whether they are able to feed themselves well. And while you’re at it, toss out any expired food and medications to make room for fresh food.

Feel – Next time you give your loved one a hug, take note of how they feel. Are they too skinny? Is their skin rough? These sorts of things can help you figure out if your loved one needs any extra care.

Checking in over the phone – If you are unable to check in in person with your loved one, a phone call can give you some good indicators of how they are doing.

When you call them, ask questions about how they’re doing. You’ll want to be more specific than just “how are you.” For example, asking them what they had for lunch can tell you whether they are eating well. It can also help you determine whether they are having any memory loss. You can also ask them how they’ve been spending their time to see whether they are still involved in activities.

Taking the time to check in with your loved one regularly – even if they don’t live nearby – can help to establish a baseline so that you can be proactive if something changes.

Checking in with a loved one this holiday season – Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help

If you’re noticing that your loved one is having trouble with daily tasks, take action as soon as you can. Talk to your loved one to find out more about what they’re having trouble with, and why. You may want to schedule a doctor’s appointment to discuss the issues further and find a solution for them.

Finally, it may be time for your senior to get in-home care to help them with daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, or bathing. It’s important to choose a caregiver that your loved one is comfortable with and that you are confident in. While it’s important to be proactive, don’t be afraid to take a little bit of time in order to choose a caregiving service that offers the services you need and is also experienced.

At Comfort Keepers^®, we create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

Preparing for the Holidays | The holidays are a busy time for all. Between family dinners, gift shopping, and decorating, many people start to feel overwhelmed and stressed by all the things they have to do. Seniors especially can begin to feel stressed, especially if they have lots of obligations or if it’s the first holiday season after a major illness.

Tips for Preparing for the Holidays

Plan Ahead

One of the best things you can do no matter who you are is to plan ahead. If you’re a daughter, son, or grandchild, start thinking about family plans for the year. Consider any limitations that older family members may have; for example, if they can’t drive, who will drive them?

If they have diet limitations, it’s important to plan ahead so that they can still enjoy a holiday meal. Include your older family member in these conversations so that they have input on what they’re comfortable with.

And if you’re a senior, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It can be hard to take the first step in asking someone for help, even if you just need assistance baking this year’s pie or shopping for gifts. The holidays are supposed to bring joy, not obligation and stress; so, put an emphasis on the things that you love doing, and maybe skip the things that you aren’t looking forward to. For example, you don’t have to go to every single holiday event you’re invited to; just pick the ones that are most important and go to those.

Keep a Regular Routine

It can be easy to throw your regular routine out the window when the stress of the holiday season starts. Whether you’re young or old, keeping a regular schedule will help you de-stress and better prepare you for the day.

Keeping up your regular routine also means taking some time for yourself. Each day, take some time to do something that makes you happy. This could be going for a walk, reading, watching your favorite show, yoga, or meditation. While this time of year is the season of giving, it’s important that you don’t forget about your own well-being in the meantime.

Connect with Family Near and Far

Holidays can be tough when a family is spread out all over the country. Luckily, today’s technology allows us to speak to – and even see – people across the world. Set up video chat for your senior so that they can see and talk to their grandkids who may be living too far away to visit often. They will be delighted to get the chance to talk to their grandchildren.

For family nearby, make it a point to schedule some time together. Even if everyone isn’t able to meet up at the same time, scheduling visits with the older members of the family who may live alone is a great way to spread some holiday cheer.

Change Things Up

Finally, be willing to change things up. Sometimes, adding a new tradition – or dropping an old one – can spring enjoyment back into the holidays. This is especially true if the family is grieving someone who recently passed. Adding a new tradition in honor of them can be a good way to remember them.

If you’ve always had dinner at your house, but it’s become hard for your parent to get around, consider having dinner at their place instead. In fact, they may even enjoy hosting, especially if you’re willing to help them prepare.

And remember, no matter what you do for the holidays, don’t forget to enjoy and cherish the time you spend with family.

Preparing for the Holidays? Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help

At Comfort Keepers^®, we create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

How Calgary Home Care Companies Can Help Seniors with Alzheimer’s | Alzheimer’s disease affects 5.4 million Americans, or one in eight senior Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. With the disease becoming increasingly prevalent among seniors, more families are in need of assistance in caring for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s. Home care companies can provide this assistance and make a significant difference in seniors’ lives.

According to AARP, Alzheimer’s is not an inevitable disease for every senior. The organization offers many suggestions on how seniors can help prevent or fight the onset of the disease. Keeping the mind and body active and fit can reduce, delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, dementia and other illnesses among seniors.

Among other things, the AARP recommends the following to help senior’s with Alzheimer’s:

• Exercise
• Eating a healthy diet
• Learning new skills

Home care companies in Calgary can help seniors perform these recommended activities to improve or maintain their health. Caregivers, like those at Comfort Keepers, can ensure that seniors remain physically active regardless of their level of physical fitness and flexibility.

Whether it’s a walk in the park, the neighborhood or a store, caregivers can help ensure that seniors get out and about to stay active. Caregivers can also assist seniors with gardening, cooking and other daily tasks that contribute to their overall health and well-being.

When it comes to keeping the mind sharp, caregivers can help with this, too. In addition to offering companionship, care providers will engage in activities and pastimes with seniors that keep their minds active, such as games, puzzles, writing, reading and more. They’ll also assist with and encourage seniors to learn new skills and activities to keep their minds sharp and to enjoy all that life has to offer.

Diet plays a role in a senior’s mental and physical health. Healthy foods provide seniors with the energy and nutrients they need to stay physically, emotionally and mentally healthy. Caregivers can ensure that seniors are eating a healthy diet and receiving proper nutrition. Along with grocery shopping, caregivers can assist with meal preparation and ensuring that seniors eat regularly.

Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help Seniors with Alzheimer’s

At Comfort Keepers^®, we create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.