Working Together with Seniors

There are many needy elderly individuals in society. During the past three years, a group of young interns in Canada have been working with local organizations that offer support to seniors in the area. These young adults have made a huge difference in the lives of local seniors. Additional information on this topic is provided below.

1. The young interns earn their wages from the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Some are employee full time, while others are only part time.

2. The interns are employees for an eight month period in which they offer services to needy seniors.

3. The interns help with many things. This can include work around the home, arranging doctor’s appointments and flu shots and assisting with Meals on Wheels.

4. This program benefits the elderly population as well as the interns. Young adults learn the true meaning of sharing when they assist an elderly individual on a daily basis.

5. Seniors are able to develop friendships and bonds with the interns. Aside from having someone help them with their daily activities, these seniors greatly benefit from the companionship the program offers.

6. There are currently more than 640,000 seniors who fall below the poverty line and are in need of additional assistance. This is why this program has been such a huge success.

Source: Help the Aged in Canada

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Socialization Essential for Healthy Aging

A healthy lifestyle is a common focus of doctors and other health care professionals to help seniors who are getting older preserve their health and avoid the onset of disease and illness. But, Canadian doctors often forget to mention one key element that can truly make a difference in the lives of seniors and that’s socialization. It doesn’t always take the obvious to change how a senior lives, and studies show that there is a direct correlation between quality of life and health and social interactions. For those seniors who want to get out there and start socializing, here are some ideas.

1. Volunteer in the community – interacting with anyone is beneficial, seniors can even volunteer to read with children at a local school

2. Learn a new hobby at a community event – join a class to learn a new hobby but make sure that it’s one that would encourage socialization

3. Don’t withdraw from family events – seniors may withdraw from events put on by family and friends, but it’s important to attend and ensure that accommodations are made for any special needs for the sake of comfort

A well-balanced, healthy lifestyle for seniors is about far more than eating well and exercising, socialization can truly make a difference for overall well-being.

Via: Public Health Agency of Canada

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Stress Takes a Dramatic Toll on Those Caring for Older Adults.  The following stories are examples of the stress that family caregiving plays on lives.  If you can identify with any of the following, reach out for help by calling Home Care Mississauga at 905.276.2273.

She awakens in the morning still exhausted after a fitful night of sleep and immediately feels overwhelmed. There’s the report due at work today that she hasn’t had time to prepare, her son’s afternoon soccer practice and a school board meeting that night.

And, she’s also a family caregiver for a senior – meaning she has to find time for her mother, who’s 84-years-old and lives at home alone.

Her mother can’t drive anymore, or reach into the cupboard to pull out a cereal box, or even see well enough to take her correct medication dosages. And today, just like yesterday, there are no easy answers about how to fit her mom into the never-ending juggling act that, for her, is just a typical day.

This is the life of the family caregiver – who totals one in every four Canadians, according to various studies. New evidence and interviews with long term care family caregivers reveal a disturbing trend of the debilitating stress that often accompanies this role, although most still say that, in spite of the challenges, the job also comes with many rewards.

A recent stress test conducted by Home Instead Senior Care demonstrated that of the 8,000 family caregivers who participated, more than three-fourths (76 percent) reported their aging loved one’s needs to be overwhelming, 91 percent said they have episodes of feeling anxious or irritable, 73 percent have disturbed sleep patterns and 56 percent seem to become ill more frequently.

“Every day we encounter these family caregivers who love and want the best for their aging family members, but don’t know how to fit it all in,” said Paul Hogan, CEO of Home Instead Senior Care. “For these people, stress is a constant companion.”

These examples each illustrate how extremely important support is to the overall equation – it’s one of the key survival tools for any family caregiver.

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.