You may remember gardening with your loved ones as a child helping your mother or father in the backyard, or maybe it wasn’t a hobby until you grew up. No matter the age, there are many mental health benefits of gardening. Not only is gardening a fun, rewarding hobby, but it also can have many positive effects. At Freedom Home Care, we have put together a list of the benefits below. Number one, practicing acceptance. Majority of the suffering one goes through is from things that we cannot control. By being outside in nature, it helps you understand that
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Archives for Alternative Therapy
5 Books on Caring for Aging Parents and Grandparents
The National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP estimated that about 34.2 million Americans have provided care to an adult 50 or older. The Alzheimer’s Association found that approximately 15.7 million adult family caregivers have cared for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s. Caring for aging parents, grandparents, family or friends is becoming a common experience. Many of us find reading stories from other caregivers helpful to understand and prepare for care-giving duties. Below are a couple books that depict the challenges of caring for seniors. “The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias,
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Armchair Exercises
Exercise is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. Exercise is very important for everyone, even elderly people. However, as you get older, exercise can seem more overwhelming. There are some easy and beneficial exercises for the elderly that only require you to have an armchair. Learn more about these exercises below. According to Very Well Fit, “For senior citizens who’ve lost a step or two in their later years, or who are battling the effects of chronic pain or disability due to injury or health condition, there are accessible exercise options that can improve strength, cardiovascular health, mobility, and balance,
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Gifts For People with Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease
With a little bit of time and the right amount of planning, finding that special gift for your loved one with dementia can be less of a challenge than you think. Depending on the stage and type of dementia your senior has, it’s best to try to focus on buying gifts that are encouraging and beneficial to them as a person and their overall lifestyle. It’s always nice to get things that you want – after all, isn’t that why we make Christmas lists in the first place? A senior loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia is no different. But
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Benefits of Keeping Your Senior Active by Doing Things They Love
As we get older, there’s a natural tendency to slow down or stop doing the things we once loved to do. Many times seniors can no longer physically take part in the same activities due to a loss of strength or lack of mobility. But you don’t have to be completely mobile or in top physical condition to participate in your favorite hobbies or pastimes. And staying engaged is not only enjoyable, but it also contributes your overall health and well-being. According to the Center for Disease Control, seniors who continue doing the things they love are more likely to
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What is Validation Therapy and How Does it Work?
For those who have family members living with Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia know that it may be difficult to communicate with them at time. We at Freedom Home Care know just how tough it can be- so we would like to show you a therapy that may be effective in providing your loved ones with some relief. Validation therapy is something that is used in a Home Care Agency’s work. It is the idea that there is an underlying reason for disoriented people’s behavior. Those who study this theory believe that in order to help those living with Dementia, find
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Can Engaging in Creative Activities Help You Avoid Alzheimer's Disease?
One in 44 million people in the U.S. today have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, while one in 10 adults over the age of 65 suffers from the disease. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are ways we can help fight off some of its effects. According to experts, engaging in the arts and other creative activities, can help seniors positively develop self-esteem, sharpen skills, maintain dexterity and stimulate the mind. It’s also been proven that hobbies like playing games or listening to music can assist Alzheimer’s patients find meaning in their lives and draw from interests they’ve
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Therapies to Help with Aging
According to the American Psychological Association of America one out of four people over 65 will live longer than 90 years of age. Now imagine the various needs of each of these adults by that time. Some experience unfortunate changes in health including chronic conditions and diseases. Others may no longer have the ability to complete daily activities like bathing or eating. While others may notice a decline in cognition and mental health. And just as people are unique, their needs also require a very different solution. For those older adults who encounter changes in mobility following an accident, injury or serious health
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Best Activities for Seniors with Alzheimer’s
As Alzheimer’s disease disrupts memory, impairs their behavior and reasoning, those in senior care near Chicago may stop doing some of the things they once loved. But this diagnosis does not strip one of their needs and desire to have a full, meaningful life. It just means changes may need to be made and new activities taken up that allow self-expression, lessen anxiety, stir memories, promote connection with others and improve quality of life, such as: Read & Relax Books can comfort, entertain, inform and provide an outlet for engagement. Researchers have even found that reading improves the quality of
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Things To Do If Arthritis Meds Don't Work
As more and more Americans transition into their golden years, the number of people suffering from chronic arthritis increases along with them. But it doesn’t end there. Many of those who experience the painful effects of osteoarthritis know that often times medication prescribed by doctors doesn’t completely relieve them of pain. For some older loved ones, medication just isn’t enough. Many times, prescription drugs come with side effects that are concerning to those who take them. And because of that, a growing number of seniors are turning to other practices for relief. By combining alternative methods and natural remedies with
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