Caregiver Training Blog

Does it feel like the seniors in your life are always feel cold? There are scientific reasons why caregivers are constantly asked to turn up the thermostat. Let's take a closer look at the issue, along with ways you can keep aging loved ones warm, comfortable, and safe.

Today, approximately 5.8 million people in the U.S. have dementia. It’s no wonder so many caregivers are looking for tips on boosting seniors’ quality of life and finding activities for dementia patients 

Only decades ago, people were still writing off dementia‑related behaviors to senility. Now researchers have an ever‑increasing understanding of the brain, which has allowed them to better identify new brain disorders, including the types of dementia.

Though it’s easy to think of bedsores as a mere nuisance when you’re caring for aging seniors, this painful skin condition can become debilitating and even deadly when left untreated. Unfortunately, bedsores can develop even with great caregiving efforts. There are few ways to help prevent these painful pressure ulcers.

Losing a loved one is one of the hardest parts of life, and it can lead to depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and even substance abuse. Seniors face the death of a spouse more than any other age group. Learning to live without their life partners might feel impossible at first. Grief can be overwhelming, even when it is not a surprise. In addition to sadness and crying, aging adults in the midst of bereavement might

Caregivers are often the first to notice when a senior’s mood or behavior seems “off.” If the senior in your care seems unusually irritable or less interested in previously enjoyable activities, take note. Consistent mood changes, trouble sleeping, and even a decline in personal hygiene are potential signs of depression, which could mean it’s time to seek outside help.

As seniors age, maintaining an active lifestyle often becomes a challenge. But exercise and physical health are important for everyone, regardless of age. Caregivers can help seniors stay active and fit by suggesting fitness routines that utilize gentle movements. One such activity is yoga, a mind and body practice that focuses on posture and breathing techniques.

As seniors spend more time at home or grow sentimental about objects from days gone by, many struggle with a cluttered home. But clutter isn’t just an eyesore. It can quickly turn to hoarding behavior, compulsively saving items with no real value.

Do your caregiving duties seem extra challenging in the evening? Perhaps the person you care for becomes more active, pacing the room, wandering restlessly, or even yelling in agitation. Or maybe they become anxious and confused. Some seniors display outward resistance to redirection at this time of day.

A life without meaningful activities is an unfulfilling life. From daily household chores to hobbies, activities give the day structure while simultaneously defining who we are. For seniors living with dementia, an inability to participate in previously enjoyable, purposeful activities can cause restlessness and depression. But though the physical capabilities of dementia patients will decline, it’s still possible to provide them with meaningful everyday activities.

As people age, the simple task of dressing and undressing can become unduly difficult. The inability to get dressed can even keep people from doing the activities they love.

Adaptive clothing can remove barriers by making dressing easier, prolonging independence and activity.