January 27, 2017 by Dean Bellefeuille
Millions of Americans find themselves in the position of providing senior care for an older loved one, and while being a family caregiver is rewarding in many ways, daily senior care can become monotonous for both the caregiver and the care recipient. At Home Independent Living wants to help you put the fun back in your loved one’s daily routine, and all it takes is a little creativity. Test out some of these ideas to help brighten your loved one’s day and make everyday senior care more exciting:
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January 13, 2017 by Dean Bellefeuille
We often hear about how important the arts are in a child’s education, but what about when we get older? Art plays a valuable role in learning throughout life, but it can be particularly helpful when providing companion care for seniors.
For many seniors, particularly those who have lost spouses or who are unable to get out and about due to mobility issues, daily life can become rather monotonous and feelings of depression and isolation can become common. However, enriching activities can help combat these feelings and provide a fun and therapeutic way for seniors to express themselves. Incorporating arts and music into daily companion care not only provides emotional and spiritual enrichment, but can significantly improve quality of life and even enhance the senior’s physical and mental capacities.
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September 15, 2016 by Dean Bellefeuille
Looking around at the home where you grew up, the home where your parents still live, can bring forth a flood of memories. The cubby under the stairs that was your secret reading nook away from all of your brothers and sisters. The family room fireplace where everyone gathered to play games and tell stories after dinner. You know that your parents want to age in place in the comfort and familiarity of their own home, but as they continue to become more frail, it could be time to consider a form of senior assisted living, such as home care. (more…)
September 12, 2016 by Dean Bellefeuille
An innovative concept, “design thinking,” has become connected to products designed particularly for the elderly. However, in its true form, design thinking actually encompasses a wider purpose: creating product solutions that make life more comfortable – whether the user is young or old. (more…)
September 6, 2016 by Dean Bellefeuille
With Alzheimer’s research dollars now totaling over $900 million, is it possible the race towards finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease could be entering the home stretch? As those with family members affected by the disease watch the trials proceed and anxiously await some positive results, the variety of trials – some more successful than others – seem to be pointing to a similar end result: rather than one solution to cure Alzheimer’s, medications in conjunction with lifestyle changes will likely be needed to defeat the disease. (more…)
July 22, 2016 by Dean Bellefeuille
Imagine this happening: your frail, senior mother, who lives alone, fell last weekend, broke her thigh bone and forearm, and is currently being released from the hospital. Leafing through her discharge papers reveals the need for medications, physical therapy, medical follow-up in several weeks, and a number of symptoms to watch for that could mean a return trip to the E/R. (more…)
July 8, 2016 by Dean Bellefeuille
There’s no emotional rollercoaster quite like the one ridden by family members providing care for an aging or chronically ill loved one. In fact, very few if any emotions don’t come into play at one time or another during caregiving – and sometimes, the full spectrum of emotions can happen entirely in one day. Probably one of the heaviest feelings to manage however, is guilt; feeling as though you should be doing more for your loved one and less for yourself. (more…)
May 12, 2016 by Dean Bellefeuille
Family. We love them, but we don’t always get along with them. Our relationships with our parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents shape who we are as people. While some of us in Camillus, NY live in harmony with our families, others avoid family gatherings as much as possible. When an older loved one is in need of care, however, family members often find themselves forced to work together to come up with care solutions. When a hurtful family history collides with a present family caregiving need, is it possible to work together for a positive outcome?
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May 10, 2016 by Dean Bellefeuille
Our memories link us to our past and unite us with our loved ones. One of the biggest tragedies of Alzheimer’s disease is that it robs a person of his or her precious memories, which creates confusion for the person with the disease and a sense of disconnect and frustration among his or her loved ones. If you’ve spent any length of time with a loved one with Alzheimer’s, you know firsthand how tragic the loss of memory can be. And it’s been widely accepted that once these memories have been wiped away, they’re gone for good. (more…)
