Throughout this series, we’ve talked about a wide variety of topics concerning making new friends as a senior, from the importance of making new friends, to how children can help their aging parents meet new people and maintain friendships.

As we mentioned, the benefits of making new friends are far-reaching, from improving mental cognition, to possibly helping prevent Alzheimers and dementia and elderly depression. As such, having friends is an important part of maintaining your aging loved ones health and overall well-being.

We’ve already discussed a few ways you can help your aging loved one make friends. So, to finish of our series, we are going to outline a few ways they can help themselves.

Pick up a new hobby. It’s never too late to pick up a new hobby. Branching out and trying new things allows you to meet new people who may have similar interests to you. One of the best ways to make new friends is by sharing an experience where you can learn together. Look for classes offered by senior homes/community centers or even local colleges/universities. More often than not, there are at least a few courses that are open to the public.

Look for community events that interest you.

Like a new hobby, consider going out to community events that look interesting to you. Whether it is a book signing by your favorite author, an outdoor yoga/tai chi class, or an art class, these kinds of events give you a great opportunity to meet others. The plus side is that these events are often free or of little to no cost to you.

Consider a part-time job or volunteering opportunities.

If you are retired, a part-time job can be a great way to get out and meet others, fill up your day, as well as put a little extra cash in your pocket. Or, better yet, consider volunteering for a non-profit organization that you would like to support, as this requires even less of a time commitment on your part.

No matter what you choose to do, try to remember that making friends will take some time. Great friendships are never rushed and you should always feel comfortable and not forced to be with a person simply because you want some company. So, take your time and let things happen naturally in turn, you may end up meeting some really great people.

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa  provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

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“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”

 

 

As we age, the friends and family we have become dearer and dearer, whether because we’ve known them for so long or because we begin to have fewer opportunities to meet new people.

Overall, being around the company of others is an important part of maintaining your well being, which is why it’s essential to continue making friends even as you age.

Throughout this series, we’re going to talk about making new friends, from why it is important, to various ways you can make friends. To start, we are going outline several important reasons you should consider making new friends even through aging. 

Why we lose friends

In our previous series, we discussed the unfortunate, but all too common occurrence of losing a close friend or dear loved one. This can happen for a number of reasons, whether because you had to move away from where you lived previously or vice versa, or because your friend had passed away. In turn, this can drastically change you or your aging loved ones outlook on life and may even lead to elderly depression.

Wanting new friends is okay

For many, it can be hard to admit we want new friends because we are afraid that it says something about us as a person. However, searching for new friends is perfectly okay.

As Shasta Nelson, author of Friendships Don’t Just Happen, points out, very normal multiple times in our lives to need new friends. We need to recognize that our health and happiness are more important than the awkwardness we feel in admitting we need friends.

You should also remember that you are not alone in how you feel. Many others lose friends due to the reasons we outlined above, and like you, may also want to seek new friendships, so don’t worry about being the only person who is in such a situation.

Friends are good for your health

While the loss of a friend can lead to depression, finding a new friend can help to fight those negative feelings and actually improve your health. According to some scientists, social activity and engagement may actually have a significant affect on our health“specifically our mental health “helping to maintain our mental cognition and ward off diseases like dementia and Alzheimers.

Losing friends can be difficult, often leading to complications in our lives such as elderly depression and a decrease in health. That is why it is so important to make sure that you try your best to maintain and develop new friendships even in your old age.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about the information we’ve outlined above, please feel free to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living “currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa “provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

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“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”

On Monday, we kicked off our series on heart health for seniors, in honor of American Hearth Month (February).

As we mentioned, taking proper care of your heart is an essential part of maintaining good health. Part of that requires having a basic understanding of cardiovascular diseases and their causes and effects. So today, we are going to talk about just that. Take a look below:

What is cardiovascular disease?

Broadly speaking, cardiovascular disease or heart disease <a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiovascular_disease” is=”” a=”” class=”” of=”” diseases=”” that=”” involve=”” the=”” heart,=”” blood=”” vessels=”” (arteries,=”” capillaries,=”” and=”” veins)=”” or=”” both, which affect the structures or function of the heart.

 

Causes

There are number of causes that develop heart cardiovascular disease, however, the most common are arthrosclerosis and/or hypertension.

Arthrosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis in which fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin build up in the inner lining of an artery, resulting in what is know as plaque. In turn, steady block up may result in complete blockage, which commonly leads to a heart attack or stroke. Some hardening of arteries normally occurs as we age, however, this process can be magnified by poor dieting choices, smoking, and high blood pressure.

Hypertension is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated, in turn putting strain on the heart. If untreated, high blood pressure may lead to hypertensive heart disease or coronary artery disease. It is also a major risk fact of stroke, aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial diseases, and chronic kidney disease.

Types of cardiovascular diseases

Below, we’ve outlined several kinds of cardiovascular diseases (adapted from WebMD):

• Coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries)
• Heart attack
• Abnormal heart rhythms or arrythmias
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
• Pericardial disease
• Aorta disease and Marfan syndrome
• Vascular disease (blood vessel disease)

Effects of cardiovascular diseases

All in all, the biggest threat of cardiovascular diseases is a shortened life expectancy. As we mentioned in our previous post, heart disease is currently the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States. Aside from that, lack of care for your heart may also result in expensive medical bills for medication, exams, and possibly surgery.

On Friday, we’ll discuss ways to help you maintain your state of health and possibly prevent or decrease the risk of heart disease. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the information outlined above, please do not hesitate to give us a call.

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

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“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”

 

 

Throughout this series, we’ve discussed various aspects of loss, from a basic understanding of elderly loss, to how you can help your aging loved one cope with loss.

As we age, the loss of a partner or trusted friend can be devastating, especially as our close circle of friends becomes smaller. In turn, our outlook on life can change drastically, possibly even leading to elderly depression.

But there are many ways to help you cope with the loss of a loved one. Not only is coping an important part of maintaining your well being, it also helps you retain fond memories of your partner or friend’s passing, rather than a bitter reminder of their end.

To help you as a caregiver, here are just a few ways you (or your aging parent) can cope with the loss of a close friend or loved one:

Grieving is perfectly okay.

You should never feel ashamed to grieve the passing of someone who has been dear in your life as grieving can be an important accepting your loss. Doing so may help to relieve any built up tension that can drastically affect your health.

Honor their passing.

Do not be afraid to tell stories about the fond memories you’ve gained over the years from time spent with them. This may help to relieve the tension of this difficult stage in your life by allowing you to see past their unfortunate passing.

Stay connected.

It is also important to stay connected with the friends and family that you still have around. More often than not, these people have been affected by the passing as well “whether from seeing the pain you have, or from knowing the person who has passed. Mutual support can help you get over this difficult time as well as show that you still have many loved ones surrounding you.

Get out of the house.

Keeping yourself occupied is another important step for dealing with loss. For some that means simply going out with friends and family, while others may wish to help the less fortunate through volunteering or community service.

While it may be difficult to cope with the loss of a person that has been so dear in your life, coping is an important part of ensuring that your own well being is taken into consideration, as well as preserving memories you’ve made over the years with those who have passed.

As always, if you or your loved one have any questions or concerns about the information we’ve outlined in our series, please do not hesitate to call. We’re always here to help.

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living “currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa “provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

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“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”

 

 

Loss comes in many forms. As we age, losses in our lives become greater and greater, from loss of youth, to loss of independence, to loss of mental and physical capacities.

Aside from these kinds of loss, we also have to think of another kind of loss, which affects more than just our own lives ”and that is the loss of close and dear friend or loved one.

This can often be the most difficult thing an aging person has deal with. Not only is it a painful experience to lose a trusted partner or friend, it also serves as a reminder to your loved ones of their own mortality, which can already be a big concern for them.

Throughout this series, we’re going to focus on dealing with the loss of a loved one or close friend, from how to help your aging loved one cope with the loss, to how they can help themselves.

For today, we’re going to start with a few key points that you should consider when helping an aging loved one dealing with loss. Take a look below:

Loss doesn’t necessarily mean death

While death is certainly the most painful way to lose a loved one or close friend, it is not the only way your parent can experience loss.

It probably goes without saying that as your parent ages, so do their close friends. And, as their friends age, they may also experience the loss of independence, leading them to move to a senior care facility or to the home of their own children–possibly out of state or far away from where they once lived.

Though not as extreme as death, this kind of change can certainly cause your loved one a lot of grief. Not only will they not be able to see their friends as often as before, but it also reminds them of the possibility that they may be in the same situation as their friend, so please be aware of this kind of loss as well.

Loss can come in waves

As we age, the risk of loss is not only greater–it may also come in waves. In some instances, your parent may find themselves at multiple funerals only a few months, possibly weeks apart from one another and then have a long gap in between. Such sudden and erratic changes can be quite overwhelming for your loved one and may result in elderly depression. As such, it is important to make sure that your loved one is adequately taken care in such time of need.

Understanding the basics of loss for your aging parents is essential to knowing how to help them through the process.

On Wednesday, we’re going to discuss ways you can help your aging loved one cope with loss. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give us a call. We are always here to help.

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living “currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa “provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

—

photo credit: Neil. Moralee via photopin cc

“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”