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How to Care for Your Aged Parents While Working Full-Time

Most families can’t afford to hire a full-time caregiver. And eventually, you may find yourself caring for your aged mom or dad all by yourself. So this means you may have to juggle between spending time at work and spending time at home caring for your aged parent.

No doubt, this is an overwhelming task for anyone. At a point, you may feel like you have two full-time jobs. But is there a way out? How can you cope with such responsibility and still maintain your sanity at work? 

If you are struggling between care giving and a full-time job, you should know that things could get better or worse. It depends on how you handle the situation. You could manage it effectively if you implement these suggestions.

1.        Tell your employer the truth

A supportive workplace is the key to balancing the situation. Therefore, it would be best to talk with your employer and let them know the problem you are facing. Be firm about your resolve to keep your job despite the pressure.

Your employee may suggest ways to lighten your workload or reduce the time you spend at work. However, this approach is best suited for employees that already have a strong rapport with their employers.

  • Create time to care for yourself

It’s very easy to stop caring for your personal needs when you assume a caregiver’s role together with your job. The truth is that you will hardly find time to do so, even when you feel the need. But this can make your health deteriorate fast if you continue that way.

Therefore, we recommend you find the time to practice your daily exercise and self-care, even if it’s 15 minutes in a day. Remember that your aged loved one needs you to be strong enough for them.

  • Delegate tasks and ask for help

Never make the mistake of thinking you can do it all. We are humans, and there is an extent we can go. At a point, your body may need some rest, and when it doesn’t get it, you may experience ill health or more

You could ask your spouse, friend, or relative to help you care for your aged parent once in a while. It could be once or twice a week. Since you can’t afford to employ a full-time caregiver, you could hire on a part-time basis or delegate specific tasks to the caregiver, which may likely reduce their charge per hour too.

You owe it to yourself and everyone else to stay healthy physically and mentally, even while caring for an aged parent.

The experts here at Elderlink.org have had to deal with situations as challenging or worse than this many times over the years. There always seems to be an answer if everyone works together. A senior mostly understands everyone else’s life cannot stop only to meet the senior’s needs. Only in very unusual cases do the seniors not understand that all have a lives to live. Keep in mind they see the situation too, and in most cases, will try to adapt to make it a bit easier for all.

No one wants to be a burden and will be willing to work with everyone to ensure the proper answer is reached.

Always state your case, ask all for their opinion, and the answer will come out in the wash. Check other suggestions all on the https://elderlink.org website; we are a center of great tips, we should be with over 60 years experience. Or call us directly at  800- 613- 5772, our services are free to the public, we are available 24/7.

Elderlink Speaks to Many Clients and Understand When is the Perfect Time to Consider Assisted Living?

We are taking care of our parents for as long as we can is the desire of many of us. However, it gets to a point where we can no longer handle it because of the demands of our personal and professional lives. At such a moment, the best decision to consider is assisted living for parents or grandparents. The challenge for many is determining the perfect time for considering assisted living. Some pointers could indicate when you should make some consideration. Elderlink can share some of the advice you may choose to view, and they include:

  • Seniors can no longer do what they used to do

One of the significant pointers that indicate it’s time to consider assisted living for seniors is to no longer do what they used to do. When you notice difficulty in certain activities like eating, exercise, and even sleeping, it is time to consider assisted living.

  • There is a frequent need for medical care

The need for routine medical care by seniors may be a sign that they need assisted living. Moving them to an assisted living facility may help them recover from the illness faster or better manage a chronic condition.

  • Difficulty in keeping up with personal care

Is your busy schedule getting in the way of your responsibility of care? And your aged parents cannot take care of themselves in terms of grooming and bathing. You may consider moving them to an assisted living community to get access to quality care when needed. They would also be able to relate with other seniors and make more friends.

  • Emotional health is being affected

As we grow older, there is the need to feel loved and cared for. Seniors are not an exception to this. Lack of companionship can have severe consequences on the emotional health of seniors. Moving them to an assisted living facility can renew their social interaction and improve their emotional health.

Please consider these pointers discussed when deciding whether or not it is time to move an aged loved one to an assisted living facility. You may seek help and speak with a professional senior living placement service like one of California’s leading aged care provider experts. Remember, your aged loved one deserves all the care and love they can get in their golden age.

Elderlink has been assisting families, friends, and the actual people who require care in the best place to consider as your next location to call home. Trust the best, ELDERLINK 800 613-5772.

New Years’ is over, and all the presents have been opened; the Xmas tree is out in front of the home waiting for the trash man to pick it up. How to Overcome Holiday Depression in the Elderly

We all know how the holiday season unites many families, promotes marital commitment, and brings joy to millions of people globally. For most seniors, the situation might be different. For some of them, December only means isolation and sadness. While for others, it generally results in a decline in cognitive ability, making them more or less like a couch potato.

Here are useful tips to help your loved one know if you feel lonely due to the holiday and combat holiday depression tactfully.

  • Identify changes in your mood.

Are you suddenly feeling less energy than usual? If you are feeling sad, it would be better to acknowledge your feelings and speak out. The first step to finding relief from depression is to become aware of your feelings. And when possible, share with a friend or a professional. It is carrying it around inside that makes us feel poorly and get sick.

  • Spend time with animals.

Spending time with some animals, especially pets, can alleviate the feeling of loneliness. This feeling surfaces for different reasons. It could be that you feel left out of the “holiday grove.” Or you wished your adult children and grandchildren were present with you. Whatever the reason for your depressed look during the holiday, many experts have opined that spending time with pets can reduce such feelings drastically. Unconditional love is what you receive from your pets; that is extremely important and a wonderful feeling

  • Engage in outdoor activities esthetician.

Despite the fall season during the holidays, there are some senior-friendly recreational and fun activities you could engage in to eliminate depression gradually. Exercise is another excellent way to stay active and prevent you from falling in to depression frequently. Feeling good physically and looking good physically does wonder for our spirit

  • Connect with friends and family.

Spending your first holiday in an assisted living facility can be daunting because you aren’t used to the system yet. You may feel homesick and depressed. You can let go of loneliness by connecting with your adult kids and other family members regularly. Your close friends could also offer you some emotional support during this time.

  • Help others.

Volunteering in your local region is a great way to feel good about yourself and focus on helping others as well. Many organizations seek volunteering services for specific positions for the elderly. You could join one of them in your spare time. Bringing light and love into someone’s life will give you a feeling that is matched by very few other things you do.

  • Seek professional help.

Despite all these suggestions, if you still discover that you are persistently sad, it may be time to seek professional help as soon as you can. Although family members may provide support, they are generally not qualified and cannot render you help as an expert would.

By working with a professional to alleviate your depression, you will identify triggers and discover more ways to become resilient. Elderlink is a genuinely fantastic company; they answer questions that other Senior Living locators would not even know where to start. Well trained, passionate, intelligent, and on your side to find the right location for all your needs. This phone number may be the most critical number to have when properly caring for your parents, family members, and friends. 1 800 613-5772

Elderlink has Some Suggestion to Help Seniors Trying to Quit Smoking

According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is a life-threatening habit that can increase most smokers’ mortality rate by 30%. Smokers are highly liable to long term illnesses such as cancer and other respiratory problems.

For many years, the evils of smoking have been shared with us via TV, Radio, Magazines, Internet, Family, Friends, and the list goes on. The news is so powerful and so commonly heard it had prompted many to seek ways to stop smoking as they age. But quitting this habit is not as simple as a piece of the pie, especially if you have smoked all your life. The situation is complicated for most seniors who have probably smoked for more than two decades; just stopping does not come that easily.

Trying to quit smoking is a bold step to take as you age. Elderlink knows aging makes us vulnerable to certain illnesses and smokers are highly vulnerable way more than non-smokers. Suppose you are above 50 and trying to quit this life-threatening habit, congratulations. Here are six tips to help you as you make an effort to stop once and for all time.

  • Avoid triggers

If you want to quit smoking successfully, this should be your first step. You will do well to avoid certain circumstances and people, including friends and family members, that could make you feel the urge to smoke again. You do not have to avoid them forever, but you need to distance yourself for four to six months. You should also avoid locations tagged as your “regular smoking spot” to ensure such memories fade out of your mind gradually.

  • Engage in recreational activities for distraction

To enable you to quit smoking, you will need to take your mind off it entirely. If you remember something that helped you in the past, perhaps, when you attempted to quit the habit some time ago, it’s time to reconsider it.

Seniors can also engage in recreational or healthy activities to keep their minds off smoking and fuel their thoughts with other vibes.

  • Get all the support you need

Most times, being around a friend of yours or even a family member could be all the motivation you need to quit smoking. Seniors with a strong desire to live longer will do well to protect others, especially their loved ones from the effect of secondhand smoke.

  • OTC and Prescription Stop Smoking Medications and tools.

For less than $30.00, you can purchase a pack of Stop Smoking patches or chewable tabs that help tremendously in assisting your desire to stop the smoking habit. You can also speak with your physician; he can give you a prescription for medication that will assist (powerfully and positively) to kick the habit finally

  • Snack always

Studies have shown that older adults trying to quit a life-long habit like smoking can quickly unleash their urge to snack. Items you are eating or using now, like almonds, chewing gum, candy, and others, could reduce your chances of smoking a cigarette. So, each time those urge pops up, grab a snack!

  • Don’t be afraid to fail

As you try to quit smoking, chances are you may give in most times. But that does not mean you are a failure. It is normal to make mistakes. It shows you are making progress as well. All you must do is be relentless in your effort to quit this life-threatening habit.

If you need more specialized help, don’t hesitate to talk with a health care professional who will be more than happy to help you. Better yet, let Elderlink.org find you a senior living location where smokers are not allowed. Most facilities are no smoking inside, but others allow people to smoke just outside the doors. We know the facilities where cigarette smoking is not permitted indoors or outdoors.

www.Elderlink.org will do it all for you. Let the winners at Elderlink help you to enjoy life by finding the perfect housing for you and all your needs. 800 – 613-5772 .

Elderlink.org Explains How to Care For an Elderly Parent at Home When Possible

When exploring a long term care plan, it would be best to consider first caring for an elderly parent at home. First, it would help to save costs, but it would also give comfort that the senior gets the care they need in the comfort of their home. Here at Elderlink.org, we understand the need to keep parents close. When it is time to turn that care over to the professionals at a senior living location, Eldercare knows how to assist and make this transition go smooth and safe, allowing the senior to feel comfortable making a move. Here are two ways to look at care for your seniors. Be it at home or a senior living location

  • Monitor your parents’ well being
  • The level of attention you need to give an older adult varies. Most times, all you need to do is check on their activities regularly or monitor their conversations. But at times, these aren’t just enough. You may also need to perform physical surveillance. Most seniors may not show signs of Alzheimer’s or depression until they are well into the advanced stages. Many families move their parents to an assisted living location once they see the initial onset of Alzheimer’s instead of waiting for them to fall more ill and then fight to stay home and not move because of fear.

  • Seek help on time
  • Most times, it can be hard to continue caring for aged parents with increasing needs. That is why we suggest you have professional help ready anytime trouble strikes. You may schedule specific times during the year to invite an experienced medical professional to check them. On the other hand, if you have found the appropriate senior living location, that is part of their job, ensuring your family is always cared for at any time. 

  • Could you encourage them to eat healthily?
  • Seniors are at more risk of malnutrition than younger adults. Even at that, you should discourage them from overeating junk and processed food. There are different types of nutritious meals they can eat that align with their dietary restrictions. Try to prepare easy-ready meals or teach them how to do so when you aren’t at home.

    Here the advantage of a senior living facility makes sense. Most all have a nutritionist create the menu, and each person receives the meal best suited for their current condition, or just an excellent nutritious meal is served three times a day, which makes the best sense.

  • Make your home a safe place (Most Important)
  • Make your home as senior-friendly as possible. A safe living environment is one step you should never skip if you choose to take care of your aged parents at home successfully. Ensure the staircase, lawn, and corridors of your home are brightly lightly to prevent falls. Other places in the house, such as the bathroom and dining areas, should have senior-friendly flooring. Should you choose your parent to live in a senior care home, all of these items are completed before you move in. Choices for your senior family members can be daunting, but knowing they are safe, happy and in good health is first and foremost.

  • Keep them active socially
  • Your aged parents may be used to their former active and busy lives when they had to go to work in the mornings and return late in the evenings. They may become lonely and feel depressed if they retreat from such a busy lifestyle. As much as you can, engage them physically and socially. The additional idea is to encourage them to become part of religious or recreational events in their neighborhood. They can also become part of clubs and other associations to find their age group and mingle easily.

    So often it just makes sense to have you parent of senior friend move to a well maintained Senior Living Facility. Making friends, doing thing together, going places, spending time during the day with a lot of faces you get to know pretty quick seems to be the best answer for most seniors. Speak to the experts and Elderlink.net They will assist you from day one on how to make the transistion much more simple than what you think.

    Caring for an aged parent is, no doubt, a labor of love. With these tips, you can help your parents find the balance they seek and gain yours too. When the time comes, you realize the level of care you are offering is probably not enough; that is when you call elderlink.org. They have been serving families throughout California since 1939. Working with a successful company when it comes to family or friends is extremely important. Call us today and learn more about what is available for that senior you love. 800 – 613-5772