Accepting help is not easy for anyone – we all have our pride, our independence, and an unwillingness to admit defeat. This is especially true of Bakersfield older adults who feel their lives as they know it slipping away as a result of age. Whether you’re suggesting that you provide them help so that they can remain safe in their day-to-day lives, or that a home care provider enter the home to provide assistance, accepting help isn’t always easy for seniors. If they refuse help, here are a few ways that you can help to ease the transition from resistance to acceptance.

1. Remember change is difficult for everyone – their resistance might be frustrating, but think about how you would feel in the same situation
2. Give him/her time to come around – introduce changes slowly, but don’t force them. Eventually, the changes if for your senior’s benefit will be more accepted, once they get past denying they need help
3. Keep on trying – if you try to introduce a change and it’s not accepted, wait and try again. Sometimes even 15 minutes can make a world of difference
4. Keep them involved in decisions – let your senior know he/she does have a say in making decisions about care. However, do try and be persuasive about introducing care options
5. Offer a trial period – if they are resistant, persuade your senior to give your suggestion a try. A trial period with a home caregiver or with you helping around the house may help them to realize how much it can ease their burden
6. Present it as help for them – when suggesting you help them out or hire a caregiver, don’t present it as a result of their limitations, tell them it’s to have someone available to clean up around the house so they don’t feel obligated, or to help with moving of heavy objects
7. Know when to stop pushing – remember, that despite your concerns, your senior is still someone who is capable and allowed to make their own decisions. If you have tried the above to no avail, no when to stop pushing otherwise you might risk your relationship

Via: National Caregiver’s Library

image: jupiterimages.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Often seniors feel like they’re doing nothing more than surviving during older adulthood, just making it through the day, but not actually finding anything joyful about it. Seniors may find it challenging to do things that make them happy, but that doesn’t mean that as caregivers and family members, we can’t encourage them. Try these 6 ways to bring seniors joy:

1. Encourage physical activity – exercise releases hormones which can help stave off depression. Instead of sitting around at home during a visit with a senior, go out for a walk or pick another activity that’s well suited to the senior’s physical capabilities.

2. Create social situations – the best way to boost senior morale and prevent loneliness is to get them involved in social situations. Invite your senior to a party or encourage them to join a social activity.

3.  Help maintain a healthy diet – studies have proven that a well-balanced diet can prevent depression, so keep your senior’s fridge well stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables.

4. Offer support – if your efforts just don’t seem to boost your senior’s morale or they continue to struggle with elderly depression, make sure they know you are willing to listen to anything on their mind. If they aren’t comfortable talking with a friend or family member, encourage them to speak with a counselor or join a support group for seniors.

5. Encourage their hobbies – while some seniors may withdraw from activities they enjoy, encourage your senior to keep them up or find some new things that interest him/her.

6. Improve the living space – if your senior spends a lot of time in his/her home, even if it’s in an assisted living facility, personalize the space to help them feel comfortable. Photos, décor in their favorite colors and other personal comforts will help seniors feel like they belong there!

Sources:

1. Senior Journal: Kara Gavin
2. Everyday Health

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

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Q – When should I start talking to my parents about their retirement plans? I don’t want to feel like I’m being intrusive into personal aspects of their lives, but I want to ensure that they are planning for retirement, learn how I can help and understand what role I will play during their senior years so I can make sure they have only the best, according to their needs and wants.

A – Here are some tips for talking to your parents about retirement planning. Good luck!

1. Start early – talk to your parents about their retirement plans by the time they are 50…earlier is okay too, but don’t wait too long! However, if your parents are already retired, it’s not too late to have this conversation
2. Know their retirement goals – where do your parents want to live when they retire? Do they want to remain in Bakersfield? Do they want to travel? Do they want to take on any new hobbies or continue with old ones? This will help determine their financial needs for retirement
3. How much? – you might not feel comfortable asking your parents about their finances, but it’s important to know if they have saved enough to get them through their retirement, while still meeting their goals. Ensure you let them know that they can’t live on their Social Security Benefits alone; according to studies, these only cover about 40% of retirement living expenses
4. Check Social Security Benefits – although seniors can’t live on their Social Security Benefit alone, requesting to know how much they will receive can help with financial planning for retirement
5. Let them know early retirement might be a possibility – whether or not they hope to retire early, with the economy today, many people are forced to retire at an earlier age. Take a look at the industry that your parents work in; if they are in an industry that’s really being effected, it might result in early retirement
6. Discuss health care – knowing what your parents would want with regards to their health care is perhaps the most important so you know what to do if they are not able to speak for themselves. You can also encourage them to draft a living will, but make sure you know what they’d want with regards to senior services as well as health care

Via: Senior.com

Image Source: jupiterimages.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Many rental car agencies in Bakersfield and around North America refuse to rent to seniors over the age of 70 due to the liability involved when it comes to seniors. Unfortunately, many seniors are unaware of these issues, and often, when making a reservation for a rental car, if age is not requested, then seniors don’t find out until they appear to pick up their car that they can’t take off the rental lot. This can really damper a senior’s vacation, so planning ahead is crucial to avoid problems with car rental after 70.

1. Ask about age maximums – many rental car companies, or individual rental franchises in certain cities may very with their age limits. While some may not allow seniors over 70 to rent a car due to the potential cost of insurance following an accident, others may put no restrictions on maximum driving age
2. Check your insurance – check with your existing insurance policy and see if it will cover a rental car if you’re driving away from your Bakersfield home. Using existing insurance or purchasing new insurance may allow you to rent a car from a company that otherwise has age limitations
3. Start at home – if you determine that it’s cheaper to rent a car from a local Bakersfield agency, get your car at home and make it a longer road trip to your destination if the savings are worthwhile!
4. Pick up the phone – while looking at car rental agencies online might be a great way to get costs, companies don’t always post maximum age limitations online. Pick up the phone, and don’t be modest about your age. Tell them you’re a senior and find out if there are any restrictions or special steps that will need to be taken to rent a car at your age

Via: About

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Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Doctors are regularly preaching the benefits of nutrition and exercise to their Bakersfield patients, well, it’s not a bunch of hot air, they really are onto something. For seniors, their lifestyle can make the difference between being happy and healthy in older adulthood, and suffering with age. With 4 simple methods and lifestyle changes seniors can stop the clock on aging.

1) Pick healthy habits that you can stick with – if you don’t enjoy your lifestyle changes with regards to diet and exercise, you just won’t stick with it. Choose physical activities that you like doing, so you’re motivated to keep it up, and don’t just choose foods that you know are healthy – stick with ones that taste good, agree with your cooking style, and that provide you with a well-rounded diet!
2) Stop thinking that it’s too late to make healthy changes – it’s never too late to start exercising and to receive benefits with regards to strength, flexibility, bone density and more. No matter what ails you, don’t ever think that it’s too late. Any steps you take to improve your health are helpful and positive!
3) Don’t let fear hold you back – you might worry that exercise will cause injury and greater problems, but if you suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure or other common illnesses for Bakersfield seniors, then the risks that can come from NOT exercising, are actually much greater than the risk of injury when you do
4) Make small changes to your diet – making small changes to increase the fiber in your diet, or the fruits, vegetables and other nutrients, can make a huge different. Gradually replace your less healthy food choices to those that will have a more favorable impact on your body!

Sources:

Family Doctor

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Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Q – My mom was diagnosed by a Bakersfield doctor approximately 6 years ago with Alzheimer’s. I have been her primary caregiver during this period, and while I have noticed a decline in her condition, I’ve found that it seems to be the worst at night. Is this normal?

A – Sundowning is a common condition that many seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia face. As your mom’s caregiver, here are 6 ways to help you recognize the signs of sundowning:

1) You might notice increased agitation in the later evening that is not present during the day
2) Your loved one may appear anxious about things that don’t typically bother him/her
3) During daytime hours your senior may not be confused about certain things, like names of family members or facts about their life, but at nighttime confusion increases
4) Seniors might be restless, unable to occupy themselves in the evening hours
5) At night, seniors might be more easily aggravated by simple things, frustrated with themselves and those around them
6) Seniors are likely to become less cooperative with caregivers at nighttime

Sources:

1. New York Times
2. Health Central

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Q – My mother is from Bakersfield and at 82, still drives herself around town to run errands and to appointments. In recent years driving with her, I’ve noticed some minor changes that make me worry for her safety when she’s behind the wheel. Do senior’s driving skills really change as they get older, or is this my imagination?

A – According to a website created by the AAA that is dedicated specifically to seniors and their driving, there are senses used in driving that do change as we age. Although the driving itself may not decline exactly, some skills can be affected when senses are no longer what they used to be.

Here is how age affects senior’s driving:

• Sensing behind the wheel changes, with regards to vision and hearing. 85% to 90% of safe driving relies upon the eyes and the eyes change in a number of ways, including diminished light entering the eyes, declining focus, increased sensitivity to glare, difficulty perceiving color, diminished depth perception and narrowed peripheral vision. Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults, and it can affect a driver’s ability to take in their surroundings
• Deciding – once the senses take in information, the brain needs to process what to do with it. In older adults, it takes longer to process information, which can decrease the reaction time needed to respond to situations on the road
• Reacting – this can be affected by a few things. While seniors might know that they need to respond, their level of physical fitness or mobility or their medications might inhibit them from physically responding when behind the wheel of a car

However, even if you are noticing some minor changes with your mom’s driving, doesn’t mean she has to give up her keys, which can signify a huge loss of independence. Instead encourage her to utilize some simple techniques that will provide for her safety.

Sources:

1. AAASeniors

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Yoga?! Yoga!? Are you really suggesting that I try yoga at my age? Sound familiar? That’s probably what you vocalized or what was going through your head when a younger family member or even a doctor suggested that you try yoga in older adulthood in order to improve your flexibility, muscle tone and cardiovascular health. Sure, it may sound crazy, and it may seem like a young trend since it seems increasingly popular in the media and with young celebrities; but yoga really isn’t just for the younger generations, you know!

Just look at the history of yoga. It’s been around for something like 5,000 years and .K.S. Iyengar, founder of the most popular form of yoga practiced today is 90 years old, and the yogi that helped bring yoga to the United States also belongs to the boomer generation. Admittedly, there are more young people practicing yoga today, but the popularity of the activity is growing amongst older adults with 18.4 practitioners over aged 55.

Doesn’t sound like such a crazy idea now, does it? Try yoga Bakersfield seniors!

Sources:

1. AARP

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Q – My mom tries her best to remain motivated so that she keeps up with a healthy, active lifestyle complete with daily physical activity, but she just can’t seem to keep it up. Her Bakersfield doctor recommended finding specific activities that she seems to enjoy, and while she maintains a program with those activities for longer, she just can’t seem to keep it going despite her best efforts. Can you make any suggestions?

A – Lack of motivation is one of the main reasons that Bakersfield seniors give up on their exercise programs. In order to provide an incentive to exercise, the AARP has recently introduced the Get Fit on Route 66 program which combines an exercise journal with a virtual travel experience that provides both motivation and history to keep seniors on their fitness programs.

Features of the AARP’s Get Fit on Route 66 Program:

• Seniors are able to record every time they complete an activity that is physically active. This can help create a record to diagnose future medical issues, and help them reach their fitness and health related goals
• Every time 1 minute of activity is recorded in the software program, seniors are taken on a virtual journey down Route 66 – Main Street US – venturing figuratively speaking away from their Bakersfield homes for road trip that starts in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica.
• Seniors are rewarded by receiving information about American history, photographs that signify stops along the journey, as well as helpful nutritional tips and motivational quotes to keep them on track

Sources:

1. AARP
2. Austin American Statesman

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.