Category: Elderly Care

A brief guide to understanding dementia behaviours

Caring for elderly with dementia is not an easy task and can become overwhelming for families. While you want to provide the best care and support to them, the lack of proper understanding of the condition, time and the required skills can add to the difficulty . Dementia is a complex disorder and does not come with a handbook with instructions. Depending on the person and the severity of the condition, each case can be different.

Elderly with dementia unintentionally use gestures and actions to communicate because their ability to express declines. Understand why they are acting in this way and what triggered them, when you observe the elderly displaying different behaviour. 

We have developed a guide to help you understand dementia and the various behaviours. We also have helpful tips for rightfully caring for the elderly with dementia.

A nutritious diet

Elderly suffering from dementia can forget to eat or even drink. One of the main requirements while caring for the eldelry with dementia is to take care of their optimal nutrition intake. For this, you might need to have a daily routine to sit with them and have food together. It is always a good choice to serve food to them that is rich in calories.

Wandering nature

Aimless wandering is the most common behaviour in elderly with dementia, which happens for various reasons, such as side effects of the medication. When this urge rises in the elderly, they could suddenly start searching for random objects or finding someone. 

Sleeplessness

The families taking care of an elderly with dementia can tackle sleeplessness of the elderly by increasing their physical activity during the day. This could be gradually reduced as per the changes in the elderly’s sleeping pattern. Some stimulants, like caffeine and sugar, can also be eliminated. It is also essential to seek guidance from a physician who can prescribe the proper medicine to ensure that your parents or grandparents adjust appropriately with their changed sleeping patterns.

Agitation

Elderly with dementia often experience unrest. If your loved one acts strangely, you don’t have to become overwhelmed as this is a common occurrence with dementia. To understand them, you have to keep a positive and empathetic attitude.Turning their things around or changing their environment could intensify the edlery’s agitation levels. In this situation, be gentle with them and try playing soothing music, which can help them calm down.

Elderly with dementia are sensitive and forget how to perform daily life activities. They might even forget family members and people they were close to earlier. The only way to build good understanding with them is to understand elderly’s dementia behaviours and then act accordingly. We hope that you have built some sort of understanding of dementia behaviors in the elderly. These points should be remembered, embraced, and adapted to treat the elderly with dementia empathetically and properly.

We at Senior care genie follow an empathetic and friendly approach to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of elderly with dementia while providing excellent care to them. Be it your search for a trained caregiver for your ageing loved ones or finding the right care home, we can help you access the best senior care services.

Dementia Care: Training focus & approach towards caregivers for empathetic & skilled support

Dementia is a disease that worsens gradually over time and affects the ability of a person to recall and understand daily events like names, dates and places. Dementia is especially common in the elderly and affects the way they communicate. Whether it be at home or a care home, caring for an elderly with dementia requires patience, a skilled approach and an empathetic attitude. The caretaker who is going to be caring for the elderly will need to play many different roles depending on the elderly’s condition. From taking care of the patient medically to providing them emotional support, caretakers should be able to manage all.

Following are the qualities and attributes that a caregiver should have to care for the elderly with dementia in an optimal manner.

  • A better understanding of the disease- The caregiver has to be an expert in handling dementia cases. Dementia patients require personalised attention. From keeping them engaged to understanding their habits and emotions, it can be difficult for a caregiver to manage all of them if they are not adequately trained to treat or help the patient with dementia.
  • Taking care of the elderly is just like taking care of a child- A caregiver is responsible for personal care of the edlery, supporting them with their daily life activities, meals, health appointments and more. It is similar to taking care of a child wherein the caregiver must be extremely attentive and mindful of their actions. So choosing the proper care home or caregiver is crucial.
  • Understanding of the trigger points of the patient-  A dementia patient may have mood swings and behavioural changes. The caregiver should observe them closely and get a better understanding of what triggers the elderly to avoid using those words or actions in a day to day routine to establish a sound and healthy relationship with the patient.
  • Gentle and empathetic approach- When talking to the patient, a caregiver should always use a gentle approach and keep track of the following:

1) Don’t tell them they’re wrong

 2) Don’t argue with them

 3) Don’t ask them whether they remember anything

 4) Don’t remind them that their wife or parent or any other loved one is no more.

 5) Don’t talk to them about issues that may upset them.

  • Knowledge of medications – They should understand medicines properly and know the treatment schedule of the patient.
  • Knowing about hobbies and interests of the patient- To establish a healthy relationship with the elderly, the caregiver must try and talk about the interests and likings of the elderly. This is imperative for the caregiver as with this information they can better engage with elderly and better chart out the activities the elderly can participate in. 

A caregiver needs to listen more carefully when caring for an elderly with dementia.They may need to be more aware of nonverbal messages like facial and body expressions. They would also need to use assuring gestures with the elderly such as patting their arm or smiling to them while talking. 

At senior care genie, we help you provide the best care for your ageing loved ones with dementia with our empathetic and trained caregivers.Our caregivers make sure that the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of your ageing loved ones is taken care of. From elderly’s diet to their daily life activities, they handle every routine perfectly.

Keeping seniors with dementia engaged! Stimulating dementia activities to try with your loved one

Staying active and keeping your elderly engaged is beneficial for both physical and mental health, and therefore it is imperative to engage in some form of activity with elderly.. Certain activities have proved particularly useful for those with dementia, such as games, risk- free household work,  outdoor activities, music and art. One thing that we need to ensure is that all the activities should be failure-free. Like all of us, they still have the need to feel successful. We have also experienced that if an elderly is happily engaged in an activity it reduces agitation & anger and calms their anxious nerves and aggressive behaviour.

Regardless of the stages of dementia, there are several everyday activities that one can do with their ageing loved ones. These can be very attractive and encouraging for elderly. 

We should carefully choose the activities and it should aim to:

  • Stir memories and allow them to reminisce about their life
  • Foster emotional connections with others – contact with others is vital
  • Encourage self-expression
  • Make them feel more engaged with life
  • Help them feel productive

Important note: We need to ensure that no sharp objects are around your elderly loved one. There is a possibility that they put things in their mouth, try to bite or hide things. Avoid small things. 

  1. Physical activities and exercises

Exercises and physical activity can have many advantages for dementia patients. It can help to regulate their sleep and prevent restlessness at night. It can also help maintain a good mood and reduce the risk of depression. A walk around their neighbourhood or at a park should be very much in their daily routine. Going out to temples, restaurants, and cafes should be occasionally planned as per their lifestyle. 

  1. Go down memory lane.

Elderly with dementia have their long term memory intact for a longer period of time. Creating a box full of their memorable things & engaging them in discussions and activities has always been wonderful. We call it a “Memory Box”. This can be a mixture of things that they would have used at work, books & magazines, pictures of family & friends or a favorite celebrity, or things from hobbies. For example: We created a memory box for an aunty recently and it was such a pleasure to see her smile looking at her favourite hair-clip & an antique hand-mirror. It is calming and joyous to relive treasured moments and celebrate the memories that the elderly love.

You can make this process even more interesting by creating a new stock of memories not only for your loved one but for all the near and dear ones.

  • Video record your loved one and discuss about their life,their childhood & their family, sing their favourite songs with them 
  • Look through photos and make a photo album
  • Watch family videos together, a relative’s wedding video might interest them!
  • Ask them about their favourite memories around a particular topic, such as their favourite holiday or oldest friend
  • You can even watch Youtube videos of their favourite singers or actors to facilitate this. This has numerous advantages, such as encouraging positive discussion and helping them reconnect and feel acknowledged.
  1. Explore nature

The perfect place to see new things and get some fresh air is in the lap of nature, wherein you can plan many stimulating activities for the edlerly. If your ageing loved ones like greenery then this one could be especially good.

  • Doing gardening together or a visit  to a botanical garden locally will be very encouraging to your loved one. 
  • You can create a mini garden & a sitting arrangement in your garden. 
  • Look at a nature documentary: TV can still offer some great opportunities to explore if the health of your love doesn’t allow you to go outdoors.

4. Explore their artistic side

Art and craft is an excellent way to explore the creative side of  your loved ones. For many, arts and crafts can provide a wide range of sensory stimulation even if they are not particularly artsy or creative.

The activities to be taken into account include:

  • Painting
  • Knitting
  • Colouring

If your aging loved ones don’t seem interested in activities or look resistant to the action, take a break and try again later. You may also try something else or ask them about how you can make this activity more pleasant to them. You must also concentrate on the process of spending time with them, and not just the results – the most important thing is that your loved one is happy.

5. Folding Laundry

The safest & successful way to keep an elderly engaged is to ask them to help you fold laundry. This activity will make them feel like they are contributing to the daily routine of the household. 

Experiences shared by our carers suggest that it’s best to use hand towels as they are small and easily folded.One more addition to the activity is pairing socks. It does not matter how well the performance is, the point is to make them feel good about the activity. 

6. Playing cards

With our experience we can say that most of the seniors enjoy playing cards and spend a good amount of time in the activity especially when the letters and numbers are large and easily readable. However, in the advanced stages of dementia, they might only enjoy shuffling the cards or separating them by color or suit. 

While engaging the elderly in any activity, it is super important to be highly observant about their expressions and reactions. If they seem disinterested or frustrated, then you may have to remove some cards so that they do not have to manage so many.

7. Music therapy

Music plays an important role in soothing and stimulating people. We always suggest families to keep a pen drive attached to their loved one’s TV with a playlist of their favourite artist or genre. It helps them connect well to their past. Watching videos of their favourite movie star or favourite singer brightens up their mood. 

Example : Recently, we created a playlist of a few bhajans for an aunty. It’s been 15 days and she has started humming along the tunes. It’s such a pleasure to see her connect so well to music and yes her behaviour has improved. 

8. Peeling peas & segregating pulses

We usually suggest this activity to seniors who were majorly involved in managing the kitchen and cooking in their lives. Simple & safe activities like peeling the peas and segregating pulses while listening to their favourite music keeps them engaged for a long time. 

We at Senior Care Genie connect families with the right caregiver specially trained for dementia patients to assist them patiently and empathetically. Patience and alertness is the key to manage the care for seniors with dementia.

Spotting early signs of dementia in the elderly

In this busy and fast moving world, how does one ensure optimal care for their elderly loved ones? With so much occupying our time and the lack of proper knowledge, sometimes it can be hard to timely notice the symptoms of various health conditions in the elderly. One such disease is Dementia. Dementia usually occurs in older people. One might even associate the symptoms of dementia as a normal part of ageing due to lack of understanding of this condition. While memory loss and changes in the ability to think can also happen due to ageing, the differentiating factor lies in the severity of the change. 

Dementia has a few noticeable symptoms that occur as a result of cognitive impairment and can affect the elderly’ daily routine including their ability to think, remember. With time these symptoms tend to get worse, so it is important to spot these signs early on to enable the elderly to get optimal care before the condition worsens.

Typically there are ten early dementia signs. Diagnosis for dementia usually occurs when two or more of these symptoms start showing up and affecting the elderly’s daily routine.

The early signs of dementia are:

  • Loss of memory

An elderly with dementia may find it difficult to remember information such as dates, events or any new information that they have recently learnt. They may rely on family and friends or other memory aids to monitor things. Age-related memory loss is something completely different from the memory loss induced by dementia. The point of difference lies in the severity.

  • Difficulty in solving problems

It can be difficult for elderly with dementia to follow a plan, like a recipe during cooking. Navigating daily life activities can also become challenging, for example, adding numbers while calculating bills.

  • Misplacement of things

People with dementia may not recall where they leave everyday items such as remote control, documents, cash, or keys. Often, this misplacement can be mistaken as an act of robbery by elderly with dementia. In such cases, keep your calm and help them find the things that they have misplaced.

  • Less socialising

Elderly with dementia may be uninterested or dicey about socialising with others, be at home or work. They may withdraw themselves and not speak to others.

  • Mood swings and personality changes

The elderly might start experiencing mood swings or changes in personality. They may become irritable, depressed, afraid, or anxious. They can also become agitated or may harm themselves or others in the family.

  • Difficulty in performing simple tasks

Early signs of dementia in the elderly include difficulty in performing their everyday tasks. Activities that they could carry out earlier easily can also become extremely challenging for them. 

Bathing, cooking, and dressing themselves are few of the simplest tasks that the edlerly would need help with if they start showing dementia symptoms.

  • Confusion

Some people start experiencing confusion during early stages of dementia. They can no longer remember faces, find the right words, or normally interact with people.

  • Having trouble in speaking and writing

It can be difficult for an elderly with dementia to communicate well. They may forget what you say or what someone else said. Their spellings, punctuations, and grammar can become distorted, and It can become harder to read their handwriting.

  • Repetitiveness

Repetition in dementia occurs due to memory loss and changes in general behavioural patterns. The individual may repeat everyday tasks, including shaving, or collecting items obsessively.

They may repeat the same question to you again and again even after you have answered them. 

  • Fight to adapt to change.

The symptoms can generate fear in the edlerly during the early stages of dementia. After all,  suddenly they can’t remember people they know and can’t follow what others say. They might not even remember why they went to a particular shop and may even feel lost on the way home.

Transition to a care home: Tips to make the move stress-free for elderly with dementia.

While we all want our loved ones to age gracefully at home, sometimes it can become difficult to take care of them in the best way possible due to time constraints or lack of proper knowledge & skills. Especially when they have specific health conditions such as dementia. Dementia in elderly is caused due to damage in the nerve cells or loss of brain cells. Dementia can affect people differently and can cause different symptoms depending on the area of the brain that has been damaged. In such cases, moving the elderly to a care home can become the most optimal choice, where they are taken care of in a compassionate and skilled manner. However, this process of moving our aged parents or grandparents to a care home could be difficult and stressful for the family members and the elderly. 

Elderly with dementia often find it difficult to move from a familiar environment to a new place. As in a move, they can become disorientated, distressed, and agitated when they feel insecure. For families, it is crucial to understand and recognize the stress of a move on elderly with dementia as it can have severe consequences if not addressed promptly. Chronic anxiety, risk of depression and other emotional health problems are among these.

These tips are essential if you are planning to move your elderly loved one with dementia into a senior care home:

  • Familiarize with the place

Before you move your elderly to a care home, visit the community with the elderly several times to make them familiar with the place. Help them adapt to the new place and empower them to have a positive association with this new setting. Ensure that they feel safe and secure, try to stay there and participate in some activities.

  • Give the bedroom a personalized touch.

Arrange a bedroom with known items that the elderlyl will recognize immediately. Personalized touch and familiar objects will help them feel comfortable.

  • Organize the wardrobe

Often we notice signs of anxiety, frustration and twitching when a person with dementia cannot find clothes or frequently used items. Try to organize clothing on hangers in the closet and try to arrange things in a way familiar to the elderly.

  • Plan your visits regularly

Families and friends need to visit frequently in the first two or three weeks so that elderly do not feel abandoned. Request a copy of the daily schedule, including meals and activities from the care home. Always try and choose the time of your visits wisely. Do not let it clash with any other scheduled programs for the elderly on the given day. It is not necessary to have extended visits. The aim is to assure the person that they are loved and that you will return very soon to meet them again.

  • Communicate with the staff

Communication with the staff will help them to understand the elderly better. Always leave a note having your loved one’s likes and dislikes, favourite food, fun activities, name of their children or grandchildren and make a copy of it and hand it over to the staff. These notes will help the team to engage your elderly in meaningful activities and conversations.

With the help of the Senior care genie, the transition of the elderly from your home to the care home is made easy and less stressful. We at  Senior Care Genie go above and beyond to make this transition as comfortable as possible, while also helping families deal with the process better emotionally as well as logistically.

Are you a Worried NRI? Allow us to be your Advocate and Ensure Right Care for your Parents

If you live abroad and are worried about your parent’s well-being, we are here to help you! We have a wide range of comprehensive planned programs and professionals to ensure the right care and safety of your loved ones at home. 

While you’re working hard abroad, your parents need someone to look after them and cater to their medical, emotional and physical needs. Constantly worrying about your parents can hinder your process of working and disturb your inner peace. On top of the difficulties of coping up with unfamiliar cultures and new people, the paranoia of your parent’s health can trouble you a lot. If you are a thousand miles away, the feeling of missing your parents and worrying about them can be overwhelming. We are here to share your responsibility and figure out a way, which can help you provide your parents with the best care possible while focusing on your work. 

Senior Care Genie is a holistic senior care solution provider. Our offerings are:

  • A detailed health assessment
  • Personalised one on one consultations for seniors with dementia
  • Care at-home (fully trained and experienced nursing attendants & registered nurses)
  • Elder care consulting services: 

(a) 50+ options for Live-in care facilities

(b) Management of the transition process from home to care home

(c) Companionship care

  • House assessment for identifying the safety equipments
  • Provide medical equipment
  • Tests and diagnostic services at home 

We can assist you in finding reliable home care services for your loved ones. We aim to make old age a comfortable process for your parents and grandparents. Our holistic service offerings include:

  1. Comprehensive senior care services that align with your loved ones’ needs.
  2. Provide a one-stop solution for their emotional, mental and physical needs.

With the pandemic comes ambiguity. Secure the health of your parents and grandparents by letting us help you find medically verified nurses for homes. There are challenging times, and seeking timely medical aid can safeguard not only your parents’ today but also tomorrow. We believe that a person never stops growing, and age is just a barrier. Upon thoroughly studying the needs of the elderly, we have come up with a flawless system to facilitate never-ending growth for your parents by providing them with compassionate senior care facilities. 

 We aim to work on the following aspects of your parents’ health:

  1. Emotional Well-being: Not all seniors need support or assistance in their daily routine but definitely requires emotional support, they need someone to care for them or visit them often or just sit beside & to listen to them. Every senior has their experience and life stories to share. Therefore, we provide “Companionship- care”. A one-call away friend. 

2.  Physical Well-being: We provide 12/24 hour caregivers/ Nursing attendants/ Registered nurses depending on the requirement who ensures that the daily activities are managed well. The elderly need proper diet and exercise schedules to stay active and engaged for which, we have qualified and experienced physiotherapists. Our services help you find the perfect solution to keep your parents physically fit and happy. 

  1. Spiritual Well-being: Studies have shown that as people grow older, they wish to seek spiritual enlightenment through inner peace and satisfaction. We have therapists and healers on board. We organise one on one online and video consultations.  We wish for them to look forward to the journey of old age as a new chapter in life. 
  2. Community Care: With respect to every senior’s requirements and family expectations, we help you find a suitable care home for you. We seek emotional support from the community we live in as it gives us hope and makes us feel like we belong somewhere. We help you move to a community that can welcome your parents with open arms and make them feel alive again! 
  3. Holistic Growth: We believe that a person never stops growing mentally and emotionally. When we get old, we start thinking more deeply, and our mind grows. We wish to provide a safe and inclusive space for your parents to laugh, smile, think and grow. 

Our social aim is to make the transition to old age a comfortable and easier process for your parents. If you are looking for senior and elder care services, contact us for more details! We have tailored made programs suiting your requirements best.

senior living consultant

Trust is a Two-Way Street! Help the Caregiver to Help your Parents

A caregiver’s job is not easy as it requires a lot of patience, expertise, and compassion. Mr Brett H. Lewis once said that “Doctors diagnose, nurses heal, and caregivers make sense of it all”.  On top of taking care of their personal lives, they take care of your parents with love, affection and kindness. Whether it is giving your parents their medicines on time or giving them the emotional support they need, caregivers go the extra mile to do their job with honesty and dedication. 

It is true indeed that to develop a healthy relationship with your parent’s caregiver, there must be a presence of mutual trust, understanding and effort. While caregivers do their job, it is our responsibility as their employer to establish a healthy & welcoming environment for them to work in. 

Why is it essential to cooperate with the caregiver?

As said before, the job of a caregiver is a challenging one. While they provide our parents with the best possible assistance and care, we can do our bit in making their work environment a stress-free one. It is crucial to cooperate with the caregiver to establish a healthy interpersonal relationship with them. When you and the caregiver cooperate, it strengthens the communication and allows you to get a better and more explicit stance on your parents’ well-being. Better communication enforces better work results. 

How can you help the caregiver? 

The caregivers don’t ask for much, and you can help them work better with simple steps which go a long way: 

  1. Establishing mutual respect: When your Caregiver treats you with dignity and respect, you must reward them by extending the same. It speaks volumes about the ambience you’re setting up for them to work in. A simple essence of respect can make them feel more liberal and comfortable while working, strengthening their performance scale. 
  2. Extending emotional support in times of need: Similar to your parents, caregivers need emotional support at times too. Simple gestures like ‘you’re doing great’, ‘If you need a break, you can take it’, ‘why don’t you relax for some time?’, can make them feel less pressurized during working hours. It is perfectly fine if you wish to maintain a professional connection with your caregiver. It is always good to regularly ask about their mental and physical health to make sure that the person taking care of your parents is okay. 
  3. Respecting boundaries: We all expect people to maintain personal boundaries. Caregivers need personal space too, and it is our responsibility to take care of the fact that they have at while working. 
  4. Understanding personal problems and emergencies: Sometimes, personal emergencies and unavoidable circumstances can prevent the caregiver from coming to work. In this case, you can extend your support by telling them that it is okay to take a day off. This support can make them feel a little relaxed and even content with their job. 
  5. Taking and giving regular feedbacks: Once a week, you can sit down with the caregiver and provide them with feedback about their work. This will make them feel valued and make improvisations in their work if necessary. A positive direction can help them make amends in their job and work on results. While you are at it, you should also take feedback from them to make their work a little easier. You can start the conversation by asking, ‘How can I contribute to making your work here easier?’ or ‘What changes would you like from my side?’. This helps in building mutual coordination and trust between you and the caregiver. 
  6. Appreciating their work: Saying phrases like, ‘I am thankful for the work you do for my parents’, ‘You are doing great, keep up with the good work!’, ‘My parents seem much healthier and happy since you got here’ etc, can keep the caregiver motivated and encourage them to do better. 
  7. Confronting them about their mistakes in a healthy way: Humans make mistakes, and it is time we normalize it. If your caregiver makes a mistake, make them realize it subtly while being gentle. We all go through something we don’t talk about, and sometimes we make mistakes. Telling them, ‘It is okay, don’t feel guilty or pressured! You can work on it’, is a gentle way of confrontation. 

The Bottom Line: Caregiving is a learning process, and it is vital to establish a positive connection with the caregiver. If you are looking for senior care services and senior living consultant, contact Senior Care Genie for more details.

Take a Back Seat While We Help You Choose The Right Home

The longer you live, the more beautiful life becomes. We at Senior Care Genie aim to provide your parents with an inclusive and wholesome community, which can be their space of mindfulness. We understand and respect your concern and love towards your parents, and as a part of our social responsibility, we help you with the right home care services for your parents and grandparents, making them feel welcomed, loved, and alive. 

What is a nursing home? 

A nursing home is a community or multi-residence housing facility for the older people which encompasses an ecosystem of their healthcare & nursing needs. Signing up for a nursing home is a great way to make your parents feel secure in a space that allows them to engage and interact with like-minded people of their age.  

What constitutes a good nursing home? 

There is an end number of qualities of a good nursing home. Before booking a home for your parents, you might want to look for the following things: 

  1. An excellent Old age facility has safety nets within the parameters of its ecosystem. 
  2. A facility with open spaces and greenery for fresh air is always an excellent option to consider. It would help if you also looked out for spacious personal areas.
  3. Every nursing home must have an emergency medical service system with required medical equipment and medical staff. 
  4. A clean and hygienic space is a healthy option to look out for. 
  5. Nursing homes with modern communication and entertainment facilities help you stay connected to your loved ones and keep them engaged. 
  6. It would be best if you also looked out for the standard of living. 
  7. If the organization has any rules, then you must go through them thoroughly. 
  8. The nursing home must have a proper security system to ensure the health and safety of your elderly dear ones. 
  9. Open gardens, a library, walking areas, clubs, and common rooms are always preferable to ensure your parents feel at home. 
  10. Advanced medical facilities and nursing options are crucial for the well-being of your parents. 

About us and what we do: 

In layman language, Senior Care Genie assists you with suitable Senior care services for your parents and grandparents. With our services, we believe in making old age comfortable and spread smiles amongst them. Each smile inspires us to do better. With our senior care services, we wish to increase our outreach to help as many people. With your support, we can make old age a journey full of happiness and gratitude. Old age can be an uncomfortable process if not taken care of timely. We have taken the initiative to destigmatize the notions about Senior Care homes and put forth a healthy and non-biased perception about senior care. 

How can we help you choose the right home for your parents? 

People who have 24*7 jobs cannot always cater to their elderly ones to the best of their abilities. That’s where we step in to help you find the best housing facilities in the industry for your parents and grandparents. With the pandemic comes ambiguity. Secure the health of your parents and grandparents by letting us help you with medically verified old age homes. There are challenging times, and seeking timely medical aid can safeguard not only your parents’ today but also tomorrow. 

We believe that a person never stops growing, and age is just a barrier. Upon thoroughly studying the needs of the elderly, we have come up with a flawless system to facilitate never-ending growth for your parents by providing them with compassionate senior housing facilities. 

After years of research, consultation with healthcare professionals, and counsellors for the elderly, we have established a model to help people with a benevolent and trustworthy housing facility for their parents where they can seek medical, physical and emotional support. 

Conclusion: Senior Care Genie has been established to change the dynamics of Old Age homes and prove the stereotypes wrong. Our services are loyal, honest and trustworthy. So help us normalize using Old age homes for the elderly! If you are looking for an elder care home, elderly care services at home, elder care services in Delhi, contact us for more details.

Dementia Care Home: Points to keep in mind before making the final decision

Taking care of elderly with dementia at home can be challenging, but most of us don’t want to consider the idea of care homes at first. However, elderly with dementia need continued attention and skilled care, which can be difficult to provide at home in the absence of a trained caregiver. Due to this, specialised care homes might emerge as the only solution to this specific situation.

However, making the final choice regarding the right care home can be equally daunting due to the emotions involved and differing opinions. Senior Care Genie makes this process easier for families by helping families make informed decisions according to their personalised needs.

Whether you are looking for care homes or for long-term care for your loved one, these are the key things that will help you decide the best:

Expertise and training of the team

The staff of the care home will be responsible for ensuring your loved one’s safety and wellbeing.Therefore, their expertise and professionalism is the key element that you need to check. You should always ask a lot of questions and keep an eye on the staff before you decide.You should consider care homes with skilled caregivers and nursing experience. Also observe if they are polite, warm and welcoming. Dementia patients require utmost care, so ensuring the appropriate training of the staff caring is vital and should not be ignored.

Direct contact person

The caregivers in the care home should see the elderly more than as a mere patient and should take their unique qualities, interests, preferences and needs into account. Here the personal care also includes maintaining the dignity and respect of the elderly. Knowing the direct contact person who is in charge of taking care of your parents/grandparents will help you to get weekly reports and updates about any changes in the elderly’s behaviour. Also, you can directly share the likes and dislikes with the person to help him understand the needs of your loved one easily. 

Dementia activities

It is equally important to analyse what all dementia activities are available before picking up a care home. Activities are really important as they keep the elderly occupied and do not let boredom hit them. Physical exercises ensure that they are physically fit and mentally stimulating activities like remembering past events, places they have travelled, art and craft, etc. to keep them engaged.

Security

Elderly with dementia have the tendency to roam around and walk out of secured premises. So, the security of the care home is most important. There should be defined emergency and alert systems in all areas of the care home. 

Food and dietary requirements

The food and dining experience has a significant effect on the satisfaction levels of care home residents. So before making a final decision, you should always visit the home during meal time for a clearer understanding of the kind of meals they serve. You should check during your visit to see if residents can choose from various options. Ask someone whether they offer food options and nutritious snacks when residents ask for it. Learn how they care for the elderly who are unable to feed themselves.

Timely reports

A care house is not only responsible for caring for the elderly with dementia. Care Home staff are also required to remain in contact with families if an accident or incident occurs. A staff member should always be available to discuss any specific concerns  with family members. This should include physical and emotional problems, and you should always look for whether this support is available.

It is important to choose the right care home for elderly with dementia and the above points can help you avoid making the wrong decision. After all, your elderly loved ones deserve time, attention and the right care. You can always rely on Senior Care Genie to make such decisions more informed and convenient for you, as we have intensive experience in caring for the elderly. We first understand the health requirements of the elderly and the expectations of the families to then help them find the right senior care services.

10 Ways to Help your Parents Stay Engaged Post Their Retirement

Retirement can become monotonous for people who enjoy working. We all want to stay forever young, don’t we? After our parents retire, they find it hard to keep themselves active and occupied. Without jobs, things can get hard to cope up with as boredom can make them feel a lot older than they want to. As children, it is our duty to help them stay active and engaged both mentally and physically. Because as they say, you only get old when you start feeling old! 

As old age hits, it is highly crucial for you to maintain a healthy relationship with your parents to make them feel valued.

Here are 8 ways to help your parents stay active even after retirement:

  1. Exercises: Morning and evening walks can boost up your parents’ energy and help them stay fit. Moderate exercises help them keep their joints and muscles moving, which helps in the reduction of joints pain. Simple exercises also help in the efficient circulation of blood and oxygen flow in the body which helps them lead a healthy lifestyle. 
  2. Puzzles and word games: Simple puzzles and interesting games can help your parents feel good. It can help in keeping their minds active. Everyday mind activities can make your parents work their mind muscles without putting pressure. Spare some time from your busy schedule and arrange a word game with your parents. Regular interactions with your parents bring you closer to them! 
  3. Social media: We often don’t get enough time to use social media in our daily jobs. When your parents retire, it’s the perfect time for them to feel young all over again and go bananas with technology! Take some time out every day to teach them the magical effects of technology. Staying connected to their loved ones through social media, watching exciting videos on YouTube, and clicking goofy selfies can make them stay away from boredom. These little things and efforts from your side can make them immensely happy! 
  4. Giving them books to read: Now that your parents have all the time in the world, they can explore things like art and literature! An exciting way to stay engaged is to read a good book or a spiritual holy book of their interest. This will not only help them to learn something new but will also keep their mind active. 
  5. Music, Movies, and shows: Who doesn’t enjoy the pleasure of a good movie? Movies and shows can be a great source of entertainment for the elderly. Watch something exciting with your parents of their era, to make them feel special and nostalgic. It’s always good to reminisce about old times and look back at hundreds of memories. While you’re at it, you can also ask them to talk about their childhood memories and laugh with them! 
  6. Gardening: Nature has beautiful ways of communicating with those who truly wish to know it. Spending time with plants can be a great source of happiness and engagement for your parents. It will give them a sense of purpose and keep them engaged. Having greenery in your house can be a great source of cold breeze, a delightful sight, and improved oxygen circulation through clean air! 
  7. Talk about the old times with your parents: Every once in a while, sit with your parents and ask them to tell you about their childhood, school memories, and teenage stories. They can go on and on about it! While you’re at it, you can also open up photo albums and get nostalgic with them. If the stories fall short, you can always roll back to your childhood memories! Small efforts like these can brighten up their day and bring a smile to their face! 
  8. Traveling: Traveling is a wonderful way to take a break. Plan a vacation with your parents and help them explore new places, cultures, and people! If you don’t have the bandwidth for a vacation, Sunday picnics to the city park can work wonders on keeping your parents engaged and happy! 
  9. Socializing: Help your parents socialize with other people of their age. Book clubs, and yoga & meditation classes are a magnificent way of keeping your parents interactive and seek support from people of their age. 
  10. New Hobbies: Developing and exploring new activities can make your parents energetic. Knitting, pottery, cooking, learning a musical instrument, and solving jigsaw puzzles can instantly produce serotonin in their bodies and make them feel delighted!

The Bottom Line:

Old age tends to become a lonely journey. However, if you engage with your parents and encourage them to try new hobbies and explore new things, it can become a fun process! 

If you’re looking for elderly care services at home, elder care services in Delhi, home nursing services in Gurgaon, Senior Care is a safe place for your parents to feel valued, safe and secure.