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By Anna Hazard
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Due to health & economic related worries as well as burgeoning cabin fever, now is a time that many people may be seeking new forms of stress relief and anxiety management.
Here are a selection of free online activities for stress reduction during the coronavirus crisis. Options vary from guided meditation classes, to calming or tension venting online games, to various relaxing livecams & livestreams that are still being broadcasted.
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By Anna Hazard
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Here are a selection of further senior appropriate activities, events, and other suggestions for helping to alleviate feelings of loneliness and social isolation that can commonly occur as one ages. The focus is on more Maryland specific resources, but similar organizations & events should be available in various states throughout the country.
By Anna Hazard
View the Rest of the SeriesIntroduction
Loneliness is a common problem to be found within the elderly population as social contact tends to decrease with age due to mobility and health problems as well as shrinking social circles caused by friends & family moving or passing away. These instances of social isolation tend to grow more prominent during major life transitions such as the death of family members, retirement, financial instability, surgeries or other bouts of sickness, as well as losing the ability to drive.
Chronic loneliness can have a particularly marked impact on seniors physical & mental well-being as well as their overall life expectancy. In particular the stress of loneliness and social isolation has been linked to increased risks of developing anxiety & depression, obesity, weakened immune system, cognitive decline & memory problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's & dementia, as well as an overall greater risk of premature death. In counterpoint, people who engaged in productive social activities tended to have longer life spans, improved physical & cognitive function, better moods, and an overall sense of purpose. While certain age related changes in one's physical condition such as hearing loss or low vision can be compensated with relatively minor adjustments, others will require a bit more effort to overcome. Hearing loss is one of the most common types of disabilities within the elderly and can be very isolating as its makes communicating more difficult. Left untreated, it's a condition that has been linked to cognitive decline and increased risk for developing Alzheimers or dementia, thus the use of hearing aids (as well as any necessary visual aids) is emphatically recommended for anyone who may need them.
By Anna Hazard
View the Rest of the SeriesLewy Body Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia, also called cortical or diffused Lewy body disease, is the third most common type of dementia accounting for between 5 - 10% of all cases. Lewy Bodies are spherical masses of protein that are found abnormally developing inside nerve cells, often displacing other components within the cell. They are also often found within the patients of other brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease.
Many people with this type of dementia also have bodily symptoms such as hunched postured, rigid muscles, as well as trouble walking or otherwise moving. Due to the presence of the Lewy Bodies as well as the various overlapping symptoms, it's believed that Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, and Parkinson's Disease Dementia may all be caused by abnormalities in how the brain processes the protein alpha-synuclein.
By Anna Hazard
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Part 2 - Lewy Body, Frontotemporal Dementia, and General & Maryland Specific Resources
What is Dementia
Dementia is not one specific disease, but instead is a general term used to describe severe physical changes within the brain that cause memory loss, degradation in language, mental acuity, decision making, as well as changes in behavior and personality that end up impacting the ability to perform normal everyday actions.
All types of dementia are progressive over time which means that the functioning of the brain will continue to degenerate throughout the patient's life.
By Krista Harper
The older you are, the less likely you are to enjoy quality sleep. Sleeping problems are very common among older adults, and people over the age of 70 often experience frequent sleep disturbances due to medications, chronic pain, a need to urinate, and more. There are several things seniors and the elderly can try to achieve better sleep naturally. Here are a few tips that can help you fall asleep and get more quality rest during the night.
By Mollie Wilson
While it’s not something many people like to think or talk about, it’s also one of the sad facts of life-- as you age and begin to take on the exciting new adventures of life, your parents are aging as well. And while we all hope it will be later rather than sooner, eventually most children end up having to care for an aging parent.
Be it in their own home or in their parent's home, it’s one of the more stressful and trying times in a person’s life. The person you looked up to, who cared for you, who was your superman or superwoman, is struggling, in pain, or just generally needs help and support as they age, and that’s not easy to come to terms with. Couple that with the fact that many of the tasks an elder needs can be exhausting and constant, and any sane person, no matter how much they love their parent, would become stressed and over worked. One of the most important factors to successfully caring for an elderly parent is also caring for yourself. This can sometimes be a difficult task for some people, as they feel selfish for thinking of themselves when their loved one is struggling and going through such a difficult time. However, the reality is that you’re going to be a better caregiver and a better child to your parent if you make sure to care of yourself and keep your own mental health in a positive and stress-free place. If this is the point that your life is at right now, or you’re concerned it might be soon, be sure to follow these top tips for caring for yourself while also caring for your ‘experienced’ parent. Beat the Heat: Why Seniors Are at a Higher Risk of Getting Heat Stroke & How You Can Avoid It7/1/2019
By Christian Worstell
When summer temperatures rise, elders and their caregivers should take heed. Seniors are much more susceptible to suffering from heatstroke, heat exhaustion and dehydration when the mercury rises. In fact, studies show that from 1999 to 2009, approximately 40% of the fatalities from heatstroke were people 65 years of age and older. What Is Heatstroke?
There are several different types of heat injury, most of which begin with dehydration. Dehydration occurs when a person's body loses more water than it takes in. We lose fluids from sweating, breathing and urinating. Vomiting and diarrhea also cause the body to lose fluids.
By Karen Weeks
Taking care of a senior loved one can be an all-consuming job, but it’s important that you make taking care of yourself a part of your lifestyle. You might think you can put it off until things settle down, but you will actually be a more effective caregiver with better self-care now. Here is how to find balance between tending to your loved one and tending to yourself.
By Karen Weeks
Photo Credit: Pexels
When you think about life insurance, you may just think about the accompanying death benefit. Thinking about death is never easy, but the truth is that life insurance can offer much more than final-expense and funeral coverage, and it’s an important consideration for seniors and their caregivers. While it’s an extra expense to your monthly budget, you can work with an agent to help you find a plan that works best for you or use web-based resources to shop around. For example, this handy online tool shows that if you’re a healthy, non-smoking, 62-year-old female, you can expect to pay around $69.75 per month for a 10-year policy, but it allows you to customize your criteria to get a better idea of what your premiums will look like. Once you’ve found a policy that meets your needs and budget, you can use life insurance in a few different ways while you are still alive. Here’s how life insurance can benefit you now, provide perks for your family, and of course, help out in the event of your death. |
AboutNews updates, tips, and guides on senior care, senior health, stress relief and a host of other caregiving related topics from the professionals at Ella Stewart Care. |
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