Seniors and Sleep: How Much Sleep Do Older Adults in Calgary, AB Need?
Seniors and Sleep: How Much Sleep Do Older Adults Need? | Did you know that seniors may wake up 3 or 4 times per night? Many seniors also have trouble falling asleep or getting enough sleep. However, just like the rest of us, seniors need around 7-8 hours of sleep.
Causes of Poor Sleep in Seniors
- Underlying medical conditions can cause difficulty sleeping for seniors. Heart or lung conditions like COPD can make it difficult to breathe easily, which can cause a senior to wake up during the night. Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s also may have trouble sleeping. Any condition that causes chronic pain can impact sleep, too.
- Sleep Apnea is a top cause of sleep trouble. If your loved one is having trouble sleeping well, talk to their doctor about getting tested for sleep apnea. In fact, a study done on 68-year-old seniors showed that 37% of those tested met the criteria for sleep apnea.
- Insomnia is another cause of poor sleep in seniors. As we get older, our body releases fewer of the hormones that help us fall asleep and stay asleep. Combine that with anxiety, depression, or another medical condition and it can be quite difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
How Seniors Can Sleep More Soundly
If your loved one is having trouble sleeping, there are steps they can take to start to improve their sleep.
- Engage in healthy habits. Make sure that your loved one isn’t drinking caffeine too late in the day, and that they’re getting healthy meals. A senior home care provider can help them experiment with meal times and sleep, as some people have trouble sleeping if they’ve eaten recently. Other healthy habits include getting daily exercise.
- Practice nighttime rituals. Whether it’s yoga, meditation, or just some deep breaths, keeping a pre-bedtime schedule can help signal to the brain that it’s time to go to bed. Also, make sure that the bedroom is dark, quiet, and a comfortable temperature.
Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help
Comfort Keepers can help. If your loved one is having trouble sleeping, a Comfort Keepers senior home care provider can help them stick to a schedule and keep healthy habits. Our caregivers can provide wellness support, remind clients to take medication, provide transportation to scheduled appointments, and support physician-prescribed exercise regimens and diets. As part of an individualized care plan, caregivers can let a senior’s care team know if there are changes in behavior or physical characteristics. Our goal is to see that clients have the means to find the joy and happiness in each day, regardless of age or acuity.
To learn more about our in-home care services, contact your the Comfort Keepers Calgary location today.
Comfort Keepers Calgary is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.
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Heart Attacks: What to Look Out For and How to Help
Heart Attacks: What to Look Out For and How to Help | Many of us expect a heart attack to look like a big, sudden event, with someone collapsing to the ground. However, that is not always the case. In fact, some people don’t even realize that they’ve had a heart attack until much later.
Heart Attacks: What to Look Out For and How to Help:
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attacks
Chest Discomfort – One of the biggest symptoms is chest discomfort. Not everyone feels the same thing, but many people report feeling an intense pressure or squeezing feeling.
Other Pain or Discomfort – Some people feel pain or discomfort in other parts of their body during a heart attack. For example, some people feel jaw, back, or even arm pain during a heart attack. It’s more common for women to feel pain in other areas of the body, but it can happen to men too.
Shortness of Breath – Shortness of breath can be a symptom of a heart attack. Not everyone has this symptom, and many people don’t think of it as a symptom of a heart attack. Regardless of other symptoms, someone experiencing shortness of breath should seek treatment immediately.
Nausea – Some people may feel nauseous, lightheaded, or dizzy. Some may even vomit or have cold sweats.
Impending Sense of Doom – Those who have had heart attacks report that they felt an “impending sense of doom,” or a strong feeling that something was wrong. If you or a loved one is feeling this, it’s best to go get checked out – especially if other symptoms are present.
How to Treat Heart Attacks
If you think you or someone you’re with is having a heart attack, call 911 immediately. They may tell you to give the person aspirin, so keep some on hand in your medicine cabinet in case. If they go into cardiac arrest, the dispatcher may have you start CPR compressions. They will guide you through this.
Many people recover from a heart attack and are able to get back to regular life in a few weeks. It’s important to follow a doctor’s directions and take it easy, especially for the first few weeks after the heart attack.
How to Prevent Heart Attacks
Here are some ways to prevent a heart attack.
- Avoid Smoking
- Control blood pressure and cholesterol
- Eat healthy
- Exercise regularly
- Get enough sleep
Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help
Heart health is especially important for seniors. At Comfort Keepers of Calgary, our caregivers can help your loved one create and keep good habits. Whether it’s daily exercise, creating a meal plan, or making sure your loved one is taking their medications on time, our caregivers can help.
Interested in working with Comfort Keepers? Contact us at our Calgary location today.Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.
Low Impact Exercises For Seniors
Low Impact Exercise for Seniors
Daily physical activity is important for anyone’s health, but it’s especially important for seniors. Low impact exercise is great for the heart and for the mind. As we get older, our mobility and strength lessens; however, that doesn’t mean there aren’t lost of great low impact exercises out there. In fact, many of these exercises can be done at home. Whether it’s walking, yoga, or dancing, seniors should talk to their doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
Some examples of low impact exercise are:
Walking – Walking is one of the best low impact exercises. You can walk for as long or as short as you want, and as fast or as slow. Bringing a friend along or walking a dog are great ways to make walking even better.
Yoga – Gentle yoga is a great way to build strength and flexibility. You can go at your own pace and there are often modifications for poses if you’re not quite ready for one. It’s relaxing and a good way to refocus, too.
Pilates – Pilates focuses on small movements that strengthen the core and align the spine. This makes it great for seniors who may need to build up core strength.
Swimming – There’s a reason why water aerobics is so popular in senior communities. Not only is it fun, but it’s low impact and easy on the joints.
Cycling – Cycling can be a great low impact exercise. Hop on a bike and pedal at a comfortable pace.
TRX – TRX is a form of resistance training that uses suspension straps to pull or push your bodyweight. It’s a great way to build muscle and get extra stabilization for exercises like squats.
Tai Chi – Tai Chi is a slow, gentle workout that focuses on balancing and coordination. It’s a great way to build strength, and even prevent falls.
Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help with Low Impact Exercise for Seniors
At Comfort Keepers, we care about the happiness and health of our seniors. Our caregivers will create a personalized plan for your loved one that can include daily exercise. Whether your loved one wants to walk their dog or go to a yoga class, our caregivers can encourage and help them make it happen.
Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.
Preventing and Treating Pneumonia in Seniors
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
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
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.
Is It Time For In Home Care?
Is It Time For In Home Care? | One of the many services Comfort Keepers offers is respite care. When your loved one is still living in their own home, a family member often takes the role of caregiver. Caring for a loved one is a full-time job, and sometimes, family members can start to feel burnt out. When this happens, bringing in a respite caregiver can be a great option to allow the family member some time to relax.
Family members who care for their loved one take on a lot of stress, which can impact them emotionally and physically. In fact, this stress can cause problems like anxiety, depression, and even some chronic illnesses like heart disease. Many family members have to sacrifice parts of their life, including their career and hobbies. They may feel unable to step away and even guilty about leaving their loved one, in case something were to happen. And when a caregiver starts to feel burnt out and stressed, their quality of care is likely going to suffer.
Is It Time for In Home Care? – A Reminder for Primary Caregivers
It’s important that a primary caregiver gets the care they need in order to continue to be a good caregiver. A respite caregiver can take on the responsibilities of a primary caregiver for anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. Whether the primary caregiver needs just a little bit of time each week for themselves or needs an extended vacation, respite caregivers are trained to give high quality assistance to seniors.
Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help
At Comfort Keepers®, we know the hard work that is put into caregiving, which is one of the many reasons we offer respite care. We value the safety and comfort of not only our seniors but their family members as well. Warning signs of high stress include changes in appetite, irritability, chronic fatigue, feeling sad or hopeless, losing interest in things they used to love, and even physical pain. If a family member who cares for your loved one is showing signs of anxiety, depression, or other common health conditions, talk to them about getting a respite caregiver who can give them some time for themselves. If you’re the primary caregiver, take some time once a week to evaluate how you’re feeling. If you think you would benefit from some relaxation, consider working with a respite caregiver.
Our caregivers at Comfort Keepers can assist with a variety of non-medical tasks in the home, including light housework, cooking and feeding, bathing and toileting, and companionship. Many seniors even enjoy their visits from their respite caregiver, especially if they don’t usually get many visitors. With one of our respite caregivers, you can be sure that your loved one is in good hands.
Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about our In Home Care Services and how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.
Respite Care and Your Loved One
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.