Caring for elderly residents is a rewarding career path, but it comes with many challenges. One common source of confusion and frustration can happen when trying to speak with residents that are hard of hearing. It’s important to be patient and flexible in these situations and to understand the specifics of their condition and treatment. […]
As we age, our body’s nutritional requirements change. One of our goals in caring for elderly residents is ensuring a higher quality of life by minimizing potential health problems before they arise. Though the attending dietician is responsible for creating a dietary plan for each individual, it is still important for others involved in the […]
Despite many of us relying on our feet to get around, it is often one of the more neglected areas of body care. Unless an acute problem arises, we tend to ignore or push through minor aches and pains that may develop as we age. However, years of these minor inconveniences can turn into big […]
In our previous blog, Assisted Living Education addressed how to effectively interact with elderly residents. In this blog, we discuss specifically how to better interact with residents diagnosed or presenting symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s. Although the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that overall incidence of dementia has declined from 11.6% in 2008 […]
As people age, some of the physical, emotional, & cognitive capacities that once existed in full force begin to wane. There are elderly individuals capable of interacting within normal parameters, but for many residents in an assisted living situation, there can be complications in having a normal, everyday interactions. Some residents make take longer to […]
Many of us are familiar with the term Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), but may not fully understand its condition, or even that there are different kinds of SAD. Assisted Living Education discusses both types of SAD and also how to help our elderly residents diagnosed with this condition. Symptoms Seasonal Affective Disorder is a kind […]
As we get older, it’s expected that our bodies won’t act the same as they used to. We may experience a decrease in stamina, bone and joint problems, increased recovery time from activities, among other things. However, there are some symptoms typically associated with old age that are actually worth paying more attention to in […]
For most of the population, the holidays are the time of year for family get-togethers, traditions, friends and fun. However, for other people, the holidays can stir up feelings of sadness, resentment, or even initiate a depressive episode. For elderly residents in facilities with little or no family who visit, this can be an especially […]
In our previous blog, we discussed some of the effects of medications on the senior body, with regard to how drugs are effectively processed throughout the body systems on a cellular level. Because of age-related changes, elderly people are more susceptible to the effects of drugs. In our last blog, we reviewed how pharmacodynamics and […]
Side effects are well-known and even expected with most prescription and over-the-counter medications. However, many don’t realize that these consequences have a more profound effect in the elderly body. As caretakers in the assisted living industry, it is important to know your clientele and note any physical changes, changes in disposition or behavior that may […]