Caregivers of Older Adults Blog | Senior Health

Touch is so important for making connections with our loved ones. 

Have you asked your aging loved one if they would like a hand or foot rub? 

Or considered booking a professional geriatric massage? 

If you’ve ever had a good massage, you know how good it can feel to have a professional feel their way around your knots and tension spots.

There is growing evidence that massage for seniors has many benefits, physical, mental, and emotional.

It can be devastating to lose the ability to communicate using the language you have always spoken.

Aphasia—the impairment of language that is a result of injury to the brain—is frustrating and difficult for the person experiencing it. They can lose the ability to find or form words, read, or write.

Many seniors and their caregivers are concerned about bone health—and for good reason. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 10 million people over the age of 50 had osteoporosis in 2010, and another 43 million had low bone mass. 

We know from experience and scientific studies that older adults are more vulnerable to many diseases and need extra protection.

An illness that can cause mild symptoms in young people can cause serious harm to an older person. That’s one reason why it’s important to stay up to date on vaccines.

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.

Due to weakened immune systems, older adults may experience difficulties fighting off infections. They also have a heightened risk of contracting the flu, pneumonia, shingles and other diseases. As the risk increases, the need for vaccinations also increases.

Let's take a closer look at why vaccines are crucial to maintaining the best quality of life for seniors, along with tips caregivers can use to make sure aging loved ones are on schedule.

Nearly half of people (49.6 percent) of people aged 65 years and older have reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis, according to the CDC. As many as 25 percent of adults with the condition, meanwhile, say it causes them “severe pain.” Caring for someone with debilitating pain from one of the 100 forms of arthritis and its related diseases can be challenging. However, there are some things caregivers can do to bring aging loved one's relief. Read on for a roundup of seven tips aimed at helping minimize pain and maximize quality of life for people with arthritis. 

Seniors are particularly susceptible to pneumonia due to a number of factors. Unfortunately, they’re also more vulnerable to complications from pneumonia, including pleurisy. If your aging loved one has recently been diagnosed with this painful condition due to pneumonia or another underlying cause, this guide can help you understand the ailment while helping to provide better care.

While face-to-face doctor visits aren’t quite obsolete yet, virtual care is on the rise and expected to impact one area of care in particular: senior care. Here’s a closer look at a why virtual care may be the right for aging loved ones and their caregivers.

Millions of seniors in the U.S. receive critical health benefits through Medicare. The recent change of the calendar year brought with it some changes to the program. Whether you’re new to Medicare or already enrolled, this roundup of seven Medicare changes in 2019 is designed to help seniors and their caregivers understand and make the most of their benefits.