How to Help Older Adults Build an Active Social Life

For seniors, having an active social life can be difficult. This is often because as they grow older, they are likely to lose connections with their friends, family members and loved ones by staying home more often. This can result in social isolation, which may lead to stress, depression, and other mental health problems. So, how can you help your aging loved one build an active social life after their retirement?

• Hobbies – One of the best ways to enjoy an active social life is to participate in different social activities or by taking up new hobbies. Encourage your loved one to pursue hobbies that they used to enjoy the most. You can look for local hobby classes in your area where your loved one will also get a chance to meet new people who have the same interests.

• Encourage fitness programs – You can encourage your loved one to join a fitness club or senior exercise program.  This will not only help them stay physically fit but also give them a chance to engage and socialize with other seniors before and after the program.

• Charity – Many seniors love to do good for others. So, you can find somewhere your loved one can utilize his/her free time by contributing to different charities and organizations. In addition, volunteering can also help seniors build a good social life. Even if they do not find people their age, they still get a chance to meet new people while helping out others for a good cause. 

There are a number of ways that can help seniors stay socially active and connected. However, if your loved one is living alone and you are looking for a reliable companionship, then you can consider hiring an experienced care provider.

A caregiver will provide the much-needed companionship services and also encourage them to participate in different social and cultural programs in your area. So, if you are looking for an In Home Senior Care Provider In Birmingham, contact Always Best Care. They have a team of highly trained, bonded, and insured caregivers who provide compassionate senior care services.

For more information, call them at (205) 874-9730.

Ways to Help Your Aging Loved One Stay Active

Exercise is important for people of all ages. For seniors, regular aerobic exercise and strength training can help maintain muscle mass, balance, bone density, flexibility and more. If you have a senior family member at home, encourage them to stay active, both physically and socially.

Here are some ways to help your aging loved one stay active and engaged.

• Create a proper exercise routine – First, create an exercise routine and that your loved one will be more likely to follow. Low-Impact exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, yoga, and more are best for the older adults. However, you should always consult their doctor to find out whether your senior family member is fit and healthy enough to exercise daily. Their doctors will also be able to suggest the best suitable exercises according to their health.

• Join a senior fitness club or an exercise program – You can also encourage your senior family member to join a senior fitness club or an exercise program. Apart from staying physically fit and active, your aging parent will get an opportunity to meet new people of a similar age and possibly common interests.

• Stay socially active – In addition to regular exercise, staying socially active and engaged is also important for seniors for improved physical, mental, and emotional health. Encourage your loved one to participate in different social and cultural activities around the area to maintain an active social life. 

 However, if your aging parent lives alone and there is no one to look after their safety and needs, consider hiring professional help in the form of caregivers. An experienced care provider will look after your senior family member’s safety, their needs, and help them stay active, both physically and socially. In addition, they are able to accompany seniors during their regular exercise routine to ensure their safety.

So, if you are looking for an experienced In-Home Senior Care provider for your loved one in Birmingham, contact Always Best Care. They are a noted senior care organization that has a team of highly trained, bonded, and insured caregivers who provide the best senior care services.

For more information, call (205) 874-9730.

Issues that Impact Senior Men

There are more senior women than there are senior men, but that doesn’t mean that the issues that impact their lives are any less important. As people in general live to be longer these days, there are more and more men living longer and the gap between male and female longevity is slowly closing. Here are some issues that impact senior men today.

1. Men don’t live as long as women do. On average, women live five years longer than men. There are several possible reasons for this including the fact that men tend to engage in riskier behavior, have a propensity toward cardiovascular disease, and a new finding that men’s immune systems may not be as effective as a woman’s.
2. Senior men tend to be happier than senior women. New research shows that senior men tend to be happier than their female counterparts.
   
3. What is the age of “old?” For men, it’s much higher than for women. Consider the fact that society might view a 65 year old woman as being old, while a 65 year old man they might not. This is likely due to a more rapid decline of attractiveness for women than men as they age.
4. Men are more tolerant of aging. Women are more apprehensive about aging for many reasons, and men still have their anxieties which include having to depend on other people, their own physical weakness, developing dementia, impotence, and a loss of purpose that often comes with retirement.
5. Only 15% of seniors in senior living environments are men. While the percentage is not terribly significant, it can make the transition into a senior living environment difficult for men, due to overwhelming female influences. This makes it important for the men in a community to form groups to play cards, watch sports, play billiards, etc.
6. More male caregivers now than ever before. Nearly one out of two caregivers is male and they are often thrown into the role due to an ill wife, making them feel unprepared.

Always Best Care is a home health care company in Birmingham Alabama and other locations throughout the United States and Canada. If you are a senior interested in learning about senior care in Birmingham Alabama, you are invited to call the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730 today to set up a free care consultation.

Seniors: Keep Fit with These Fun, Low Impact Activities

There is something about competitive sports that brings people together. And, just because seniors are a little bit older than the usual competitive athlete, it doesn’t mean they can’t participate in fun, low impact sporting activities. Plus, these activities are the perfect opportunity to help seniors become more physically and mentally fit, as they require both physical and mental agility, and will bring seniors together socially which will help to enhance outlook and mood.

1. Pickleball. If you haven’t heard of Pickleball yet – get into the game! This fun activity is a cross between badminton, tennis, and ping pong. Even though many haven’t played or even heard of it, it was developed in the 1960’s by some friends who improvised with sporting equipment. While there are no pickles involved, seniors will find this low impact sporting activity fun, social, competitive, and it does require some amount of skill to win.
2. Bocce Ball. This simple, yet mentally challenging game is a favorite among all age groups around the globe. It has ancient roots, and yet the game has basically stayed the same and is a perfect low-impact activity for seniors to enjoy competitively. Because it can be played on nearly any surface, Bocce Ball can be played on lawns, courts, driveways, parking lots, etc., allowing anyone in any setting to join in.
3. Shuffleboard. A favorite game in senior living facilities, shuffleboard was originally called shove groat, and was introduced to America by the early colonists. It’s an easy game to learn and play, but allows for increasing levels of skill making it a worthwhile activity for competition.
4. Disc Golf. This is another cross-sport activity that involves throwing a disc (which is a little bit smaller than the usual sized throwing disc) into baskets that are positioned above the ground. It provides a healthy, outdoor activity for seniors to compete with each other while also spending quality time together socially.

Seniors living in the Birmingham area who are interested in senior care in Birmingham or about other options regarding home health care in Birmingham Alabama are invited to call the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730 to set up a free care consultation.  They look forward to chatting with you!

Interested in Home Health Care in Birmingham Alabama? Contact Always Best Care Today

Since 1996, Always Best Care has assisted over 25,000 seniors in the United States and Canada maintain their independence. The Always Best Care caregivers are licensed, well-trained, and undergo thorough background checks. In addition, they are known to be compassionate and dedicated to their senior clients. If you are interested in learning about in-home senior care in Birmingham, you can contact the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730. They can provide you with a free consultation with a Care Provider. The Care Provider will sit down with you and your family to create a Care Plan which extensively outlines your individual care needs. This Care Plan is continually updated as your needs change.

Caregiver Services

So, what makes in-home care so wonderful? It’s a chance for the senior to transfer many of his or her responsibilities and leave them in the capable hands of an Always Best Care caregiver. Some of the services provided (but certainly not limited to these) include:

• Assisting with entertaining

• Maintaining the calendar

• Overseeing home deliveries

• Shopping for groceries and other supplies

• Dropping of dry cleaning

• Picking up prescriptions

• Preparing and serving meals

• Help with bathing/dressing/eating

• Playing card game

• Discussing current and historical events

• Supervising home maintenance

Or, if you’re interested in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama, Always Best Care is also exceptionally well-equipped to supply recommendations. The Birmingham staff knows the assisted living communities in the area quite well, and is adept at matching seniors with facilities that are well-suited for them. Always Best Care will even accompany the senior and his/her family to their top 3-4 choices to help narrow down which community best meets their needs.

• In addition to these services, Always Best Care also provides additional special services that allow them to serve area seniors even more fully.

• Always in Touch – a daily telephone reassurance program that is available to seniors and disabled adults who live remotely or who have limited mobility.

• Always Safe – a comprehensive fall prevention and detection program that brings peace of mind to the senior and their family.

• Always on Call – 24/7 telephone access to a doctor, eliminating the need for late night emergency room visits that aren’t an emergency.

If you are interested in learning more about in-home senior care in Birmingham, or other options in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama, call 205-874-9730 today!

Malnutrition in Seniors and How to Help Prevent It

As we get older, our bodies change. Everyone knows this because it is visually obvious, but the changes go beyond just what we can see. Seniors are at a higher risk of becoming malnourished because of a number of factors that take place simply because they are older adults. It’s important for caregivers, family members, neighbors, and friends to be aware of these problems and to keep an eye on their senior loved ones to make sure they are getting the proper nutrition.

Factors that Contribute:

• Medication side effects. It’s a simple fact that as we grow older, we take more medications than we did as a younger adult. Many medications have side effects and some of those effects could be in the form of anorexia, suppression of the appetite, taste bud changes, weight loss, and weight gain.
•  Dental health problems. Poor dental care (which can stem from either lack of insurance/money to see the dentist, or even dentist phobia) can cause tooth loss and loosening of the teeth, which can cause pain when eating certain foods, which the senior will then avoid altogether. Dentures that don’t fit correctly can also cause this.

     

 

• Health changes. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can all change the way someone eats, and it might not be for the better. Or, if the senior has any one (or more) of these conditions, they might not be able to change their diet at all, creating more health risk.
• Taste buds dull. As we age our taste buds become dull and it’s difficult to taste food. Many seniors end up eating very salty, spicy, or hot food to try and compensate, but this often leads to damaging the stomach, throat, tongue, etc.
• Fatigue. Not having the energy to cook a good, healthy meal can lead to poor food choices such as calling out or going to fast food restaurants.
• Budget. Seniors who worry about their budget may be extra cautious about spending money on food that is good for them – historically, less healthy food is less expensive.

Are you interested in obtaining a free consultation regarding in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama? Call (205) 874-9730 or email info.bham@abc-seniors.com to discuss senior care options such as in home care, and assisted living communities in the Birmingham, Alabama area.