Assisted Living Archives

John’s father had a stroke a few years ago and now he can no longer take good care of himself. As the situation worsened, his father started to show signs of loss of bladder and bowel control.

Today, John’s father didn’t make it to the bathroom again, which wasn’t a surprise, because everytime John did his father’s laundry, he finds, stains on his underwear. His father is aware of it and feels embarrassed, too. However, John knows that these infrequent accidents may only get worse in the future.

Fecal incontinence is common among seniors. For persons who are over 65 years old in the US, 17.3% have reported to having accidental bowel leakages of mucus, liquid stools or solid stools. So in today’s blog post, we are going to focus on helping our loved ones with fecal incontinence. If you are experiencing such an issue, just keep reading.

What is Fecal Incontinence and What Causes it?

Fecal incontinence is an inability to control bowel movements, which may result in stool leakage. It happens especially when a person is trying to expel gas, and the stoolpasses without control.

While diarrhea and gastroenteritis might cause temporary fecal incontinence (FL), it can also be caused by some long-term illness or natural aging.

For seniors, FL can occur due to age related deterioration in the bowel’s muscles and neurons. Chronic constipation can also contribute to FL as well, since the stool “overflows” from the rectum if impacted.

Other Causes:

Some other causes, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, can cause one to lose bowel control. For some seniors, they can even have a bowel movement outside the bathroom, and in some cases, play with there feces, suggesting a connection to past events. See our blog post on “The Power of Telling Senior Stories” for more details.

In addition, stress and fear that are caused by temporary changes in their environment can lead to FL in seniors. So, when a senior moves to a new long-term care home, they may be more likely to be stressed and have bowel leakage.

Some seniors with physical disabilities would also have higher chance of FL. This is easy to understand since they have difficulties in reaching a toilet.

How to Take Care of Someone with Fecal Incontinence (FL)

Identify the Cause

We always stress on finding the caause before moving on to solve the problem. So before you “deal with the mess”, it is always helpful to find out the true reason behind your loved one’s FL – is it because thay are experiencing an acute change of surroundings? Or has a certain medication caused your loved one to be unable to reach the bathroom when he or she in need?

Once you have found the root, you are safe to proceed to the next step.

Make Dietary Changes

Another way to prevent FL is by making some dietary adjustments.

If chronic constipraion is the underlying issue, fibre can play a significant role in decreasing symptoms. Increasing fluid intake can also ease constipation and prevent such accidents.

Exercises

Particular exercises that are aimed at increasing anal sphincter function and strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor may be beneficial to control bowel movements. The most well-known exercise that tightens pelvic floor muscles would be “Kegel” exercises. If this is your first time hearing about it, here’s the instruction of how to complete a Kegel exercise.

Step One: Find Your Pelvic Floor Muscle

When you are urinating, stop it in midstream, and feel the muscles that are holding the urine – this is the pelvic floor muscle that you are going to train during the whole exercise. However, we don’t recommend holding your urine constantly as a way to exercise the muscle, as it will increase the risk of kidney infection.

Step Two: Make Sure Your Bladder Is Empty, And Find a Comfortable Position

Empty your bladder to prevent urine leakages during the exercise. Then, you can sit or lie down to find a position that’s comfortable for you.

Step Three: Tighten Your Pelvic Floor Muscles, And Hold For 5 Seconds.

Step Four: Relax The Muscle For 3 Seconds.

Step Five: Repeat 10 times, 3 Times a Day.

Bowel Training

Encourage regular toileting and reduce the likelihood of accidents. This, however, takes time to show results.

This is especially meaningful for people with physical disabilities. So set up a schedule that works for them to have a bowel movement, and stick to the schedule, so incidents of leakage and overflow can be prevented.

Increase Hygiene

Stools may cause skin irritation, so regular cleaning and maintaining skin integrity is very important. If the person is using an absorbent product, change it regularly and constantly, so that it won’t cause further discomfort.

At the End:

Fecal incontinence may be embarrassing for both the senior and the family. If you think it causes too much work for you, it is always better to seek extra help such as hiring a caregiver to handle it.

References:

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/caring-for-a-loved-one-with-fecal-incontinence-214869.htm

https://www.healthline.com/health/holding-pee#is-it-safe

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000141.htm

Communication has never been more difficult. Jade finds that her mom’s hearing has become weaker and weaker over time. Sometimes when she tries to talk to her mom, her mom thinks Jade’s yelling for no reason. However, Jade’s mom refuses to wear hearing aids and whenever she doesn’t understand Jade, she acts like she can’t hear them at all.

Loss of hearing is a common phenomenon that occurs among seniors. The natural aging process will lead to a decrease in our senses, and this includes our hearing. However, there are a few factors that can expedite this process, such as medications, noisy environments, chronic fatigue, and emotions.

Hearing loss does not just make people “not listen” to you, but it also change their personality – eliciting anger, anxiety, social withdrawal, and even depression. When seniors feel stressed or annoyed, they may just act like they don’t hearing anything. So, when dealing with seniors with a hearing impairment, you need to have more patience, sensitivity, and understanding.

Today, we are going to provide you with some useful tips on how to communicate happily and smoothly with a loved one who has hearing loss. Let’s jump in!

What Is the Best Way to Communicate with a Hearing Impaired Loved One?

Find a Quiet Place or Reduce Background Noise

Your loved one may not know you are talking in a noisy environment, so when you are trying to raise your voice, there’s a very high chance that she or he thinks you are shouting and angry. So, make sure there is no music or television playing in the background.

Public places like restaurants with a lot of noise and crowds would make conversation difficult. Selecting locations with fewer background noises and less congested areas can greatly improve communication and reduce distractions.

Get Their Attention, and Face Them While Talking

Before speaking, you need to first get their attention. This can be accomplished by touching them on the arm or shoulder in a proper way, and not from behind.

Make sure you are making eye contact, and keep the light on your face. Sometimes, it is also helpful to say their names in a polite way; being respectful is always the key in a conversation.

Keep Tour Hands/Mask Away From Your Face While Talking

Same as maintaining adequate illumination on your face while talking, patients with hearing loss need to read your lips. So get rid of your mask or anything that would block your mouth and let your loved one “read” your words.

Speak Clearly and Loudly

As we mentioned in our previous blog post, “How To Communicate With Seniors” , you need to speak clearly, and raise your voice if needed (but don’t scream). Do not speak too quickly or too slowly, and don’t use slang that elderly people may not understand.

Rephrase Your Question or Statement

When your loved one seems to not understand what you mean or not hear what you say, try rephrasing it in another way.

Sometimes your loved one may be confused about certain words, so simply repeating your statement isn’t helpful. Try shortening or simplifying your words and see their reaction.

Make Wse of Body Language and Visual Cues

Your posture and facial expression conveys emotion, while visual cues provide instruction. However, since facial expressions and nonverbal movements provide additional information, don’t exaggerate them, as they may be distracting.

You can also use aids to deliver your information, such as writing it down, or typing it on your phone and showing it to the person.

Ask Them How They Prefer to Communicate

Communication with seniors often requires cooperative efforts. So, it is never a bad idea to inquire about the other person’s preferred method of communication – if verbal isn’t the best for them, ask them if they would like to use any aid such as phones or sticky notes.

In the End

If you have tried many methods to communicate but the condition continues to worsen, it is better to do a hearing test. Specialists will offer potential solutions and techniques to help with hearing problems.

Reference:

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/hearing-loss-communication-techniques-144762.htm

https://www.hearinglink.org/living/partners-children-family-hearing-people/how-to-communicate-with-someone-with-hearing-loss/

Food has always been the main attraction at family reunions regardless of culture and race, and it is especially prominent in Jen’s family.

Today is the day that Jen picks up her mom from the nursing home, and welcomes her back home. Jen has put a lot of effort into preparing this family reunion dinner, and she had been studying recipes for the past few weeks, just to make sure her mom would be satisfied.

The dinner went well, except for the fact that Jen’s mom only ate a little and finished eating very soon after the dinner had started. Jen asked her mom if the food didn’t taste good, and her mom replied: “my taste buds arent as strong as before, not because of covid or anything else; my sense of taste has been getting weaker and weaker over the years.”

This is very normal among seniors. In fact, nearly 5% of seniors who are over 75 years old have chronic issues with their sense of smell. Loss of smell and taste occurs when people enter their 60s, and some start as early as 40s.

What Causes Loss of Smell and Taste?

Loss of smell and taste can be attributed to many reasons. Certain medications that treat cardiovascular disease that contain beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, may cause lose of senses in seniors. Also, other common causes such as aging, poor dental hygiene, nasal and sinus problems, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and smoking, etc. are all correlated to loss of smell and taste in elderly people.

Consequence of Loss of Smell and Tast

Our five senses are gifts from nature, and a disappearance of any one of them would lead to serious consequences.

Safety Issue

Our smell is linked to sections of the brain that process emotions and memories, and it may alert us to dangers such as gas leaks, fires, or rotting food. It can also trigger pain signals to be sent to our brain when we smell or taste anything unpleasant, as it could be a warning that something horrible is about to happen. For example, some polluted water may taste metallic. If seniors drink a glass of water without being aware of a metallic taste, the chemicals may put them at risk of metal accumulation in their bodies. Therefore, loss of smell could cause safety issues such as food poisoning and chemical poisoning.

Change in Dietary Habit

Flavour is a combination of taste and smell, so changes in the senses could also change someone’s food preferences and eating patterns. Seniors with a loss of taste would tend to “over-salt” their food, which is linked to high blood pressure. Also, a loss of interest in certain foods can cause malnutrition, which would cause substantial weight loss in seniors. So, if you notice your loved one skipping meals and slimming down, it is better to get checked out.

Decreased Quality of Life

Food brings happiness, and that’s why human beings are so enthusiastic about food. If an individual experiences loss of smell and taste, feasts are no longer appealing, and he or she may find it hard to reminisce by the smell of certain foods.

Smells have the power to evoke deep feelings and memories in humans. So, one’s quality of life might be severely hampered by the diminished or distorted perception of smell.

How to Help Your Loved One with Change in Sense of Smell & Taste

Get Checked

First and foremost, get checked by a doctor. You can book a nasal examination for your loved one to see if there’s inflammation or something else, such as COVID-19. Sometimes it emerges from collective issues, and loss of smell is just a signal of more troubles down the road.

Encourage Him or Her to Eat

A loss of smell and taste would alter one’s appetite. In that, encouraging your loved one to savor foods becomes a vital topic here. Making social events and family gatherings is a good way to help seniors eat more food than usual. Also, you can try to use more herbs and spices that stimulate their appetite and increase food flavours without increasing blood pressure. Moreover, food is better served hot than cold in terms of its flavour. However, watch the temperature carefully so it won’t be too hot and burn your loved one’s tongue and throat – the best temperature served is about 150 F.

Follow Nutrition Guides

In our previous blog post, “Nutrition Guides for Seniors”, we have provided nutrition requirements and macronutrient charts for seniors. You can use the chart for planning for tasty meals for your loved one. Eating balanced meals is essential for seniors, no matter if they have lost their smell or not.

Label Foods with Dates Clearly

Since some seniors aren’t able to distinguish rotten or spoiled food by smell (as the look of food may not change much as they go bad), it is important to label fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, meat, and other foods with their purchase date, and best before date CLEARLY. Write the date in a bigger size so your loved one will notice.

Make Sure the Gas Detectors and Fire Alarms are Working

Again, guaranteeing your loved one’s safety at home is the primary thing we should focus on. In case he or she may be forgetful, or isn’t able to smell any “dangers”, you need to be proactive. Install and make sure gas detectors and fire alarms are in good working condition to greatly relieve your tension when you are away.

References:

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/help-seniors-whove-lost-smell-hearing-vision-172651.htm

https://www.everydayhealth.com/senior-health/when-aging-steals-your-sense-of-taste.aspx

Everyone knows Steve – the toughest and most obstinate man in the long-term care home. It is very difficult to convince him to do anything, which also includes welcoming his grandson’s dog, a three-year-old yellow lab.

“I hate dogs! They are annoying and dirty,” shouted Steve, speaking to his son on FaceTime. “Don’t ever bring that thing here…I won’t even let it in!”

Apparently, Steve’s grandson was even more uncompromising than his grandpa. He still brought the dog to the long-term care home, two weeks after the FaceTime call. His grandson gave: “The dog can’t be left in the house alone.”

The first greeting wasn’t so pleasant. Steve looked at the dog and angrily asked his son why he had brought him. However, the dog wasn’t aware of Steve’s disgust – he put his paw on Steve’s knee and wagged his tail happily, as if he were saying, “Hi Steve, it’s nice to meet you!”

After two hours of visiting, the family decided to go back. “Hey, why don’t you just leave the dog here since you will be in the city for a week,” requested Steve. “You said yourself that the dog can’t be left alone. I think I can take care of him.”

It may have been surprising for a man like Steve to say that, but it did not surprise anyone that day. Everyone witnessed how happy and gentle Steve was when he was playing with the dog and how he made Steve another different person – a person that no one had ever seen.

“Maybe animals are magic,” joked Steve’s caregiver. “They can do the tricks that we can’t.”

This is true – our fluffy friends are amazing. They don’t speak (human languages), and they don’t buy you any gifts (small dead animals and sticks don’t count, of course). However, they have the power to sweep the haze away from your life and let the sunshine in – which is also a primary reason why so many institutions are using pet therapy to cope with people’s health problems.

What Is Pet Therapy?

Pet Therapy is a type of therapy that uses specially trained animals to offer affection and comfort to a community or a single individual. It is being used in a variety of organisations, including hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, and retirement and assisted living homes.

There are three different types of pet therapy: Facility Therapy, Animal-Assisted Therapy, and Therapeutic Visitation.

Facility Therapy refers to having the pets reside at the care home and trained to monitor dementia patients. At the same time, Assisted Therapy means a specific individual owns a trained pet in the assisted living community and receives a more intensive treatment.

Therapeutic Visitation, on the other hand, is the most common type of pet therapy out of the three. It refers to pet owners bringing their pet and visiting long-term, care homes, which allows seniors to spend time with them and enjoy their companionship without having to take on the additional responsibility of caring for them all the time.

Why Do We Love Pet Therapy?

Encourages Social Engagement

It may be awkward if two strangers stand together, but if there is a pet sitting around them, the two individuals are more likely to interact with each other. Isn’t that amazing? In many cases, pets serve as excellent conversation starters. Residents can connect with each other and form new friendships when they spend time with animals.

Pet Therapy Has Many Physical Benefits

Did you feel amused when you scroll through TikTok and see pet videos? If yes, you’ve already benefited from “The Pet Effect”.

The term “The Pet Effect” refers to the miraculous healing powers of watching or interacting with pets. Spending time with dogs has been found in studies to lessen long-term care home residents’ pulse rates, as well as their stress and anxiety levels, as well as their heart rate and blood pressure.Some parents notice that their children who have depression will show alleviation in their symptoms when they have pets around, and it works for seniors, too. After all, these little animals don’t judge or give you any advice, and stay with you no matter what you do.

Senior isolation

If you have subscribed to our page, you must be familiar with the term “Senior Isolation”. Many seniors tend to have feelings of loneliness and isolation, either as a result of a lack of frequent visits from family and friends, a loss of a significant other, or a decreased level of physical activity.

Senior Isolation is difficult to tackle because so many seniors are “comfortable” in their unhealthy settings. So, for the reluctant elders, we can use our paw-friends to bring them out of their “shells”, and thus make them more open to new friendships. Feel free to check out our blog on “Senior Isolation”we have a lot of advice for you to help your loved one if he or she is experiencing loneliness.

Who Can be Our Paw-Friend?

Not all pets can be used in pet therapy, given the various personalities among the species and breeds. Normally speaking, old dogs and indoor cats are more suitable for companionship and providing comfort for seniors – they are quiet and understanding (yes, they are more sensitive to human’s needs when they get older).

There Are Limitations:

Just like many medications, pet therapy is not without its limitations. The more prominent concern of pet therapy would be safety. Many long-term care homes will ensure the animals are well-trained by doing behaviour checks. Cause, some pets may cause a threat to seniors’ safety if they are not properly trained.

Another issue is sanitation. Seniors tend to have compromised immune systems. Any unvaccinated or unwashed animals may cause allergies or infections among senior residents.

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/pet-therapy/art-20046342

https://thehamlets.ca/pet-therapy-benefits/

If-Your-Loved-Ones-With-Dementia-Tend-To-Explore-You-Should-Read-This-Home-Environment-Preparation-Tips-1200x675.jpg

We have gotten a message from one of our readers recently.

“My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when he was 70. He was only showing symptoms of memory loss and agitation up until recently, but now, he has started wandering. I am currently working from home so I can be with him him during the day, however he mostly wanders at night. I tried to stop him, but he won’t listen. It’s as if there’s something he needed to complete. I am a single mom and have to take care of my son and my dad. We are Italian so family means everything to us, but my dad’s behavior has really been hard to handle. Can you give me some advice on how to prevent his wandering? Thank you.” -Mia

Mia is definitely not the only one we know that has such an issue – we see it almost every day. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6 out of 10 patients with dementia show signs of wandering, or as we are going to put it, exploring, and some explorers are never found, or found dead because of accidents. In that, keeping your exploring loved one at home becomes so important at this point. However, it is always easier said than done. So, today CareStory is going to provide you with some very useful tips to keep your loved one safe and sound.

Before You Prepare, You Need to Figure These Things Out

Step One: Find Out The Reason Why They Explore

Before you start to plan for safety for your loved one, it is always helpful to find out the underlying reason for his or her exploring. There are many reasons for someone experiencing Dementia to explore, and according our experience, they can be categorized into the following:

Basic Needs: Some seniors explore because they have necessary needs such as finding a bathroom, food, or simply looking for fresh air.
Old Routine: In our previous blog post, “The Power of Telling Senior Stories”, we have spoken about a woman who used to wake up at night and check on residents in their rooms. It turned out that she was a night shift nurse for over 30 years and she was just doing her job. (Power of Storytelling)
Fear: The surroundings may be triggering, or make them feel unsafe, so they try to find a “safe zone”.
Boredom: Of course, people experiencing dementia feel bored, too. When they are looking for something to do, as you would, they start to explore their surroundings.

The underlying cause may vary from person to person, and situation to situaton. To help you determine what’s on your loved one’s mind and what or why their are exploring, , you can ask yourself the following:

Has your loved one always been this active? It’s possible that your loved one’s exploration is linked to a certain activity they used to engage in during the day.
Is your loved one having difficulty distinguishing between the past and the present when performing daily activities (eg. picking up the kids from school)?
Are your loved ones familiar with their current surroundings?
Are there any needs for your loved one that isn’t being provided? (eg. the need to feel loved and care for, the need to go to the toilet, the need for food or water, the need to manage pain, etc.)
Does your loved one look anxious, bored, or unsettled?
Is your loved one taking any new or different medications?
Has there been any recent change in your loved one’s living environment?

After all these questions are figured out, you will know the roots of their exploration. So instead of trying to put a stop to it,you can try to help them tackle their fear and anxiety, or provide them with what they need at the moment.

If the exploration continues, you can move on to the next step.

Step Two: Identify Patterns

Now is the time that you should take out a notebook and record your loved one’s patterns of exploration. Observe the time of day they start to explore, the duration of each, and the frequency they explore in a week or a month. You can also write down any negative effects caused by their exploration. Here’s an example of how you can take your notes:

Exploration occurs daily at 1:00am for one hour, resulting in an slight injury to left leg.
Exploration occurs twice a week, around 3:00pm, resulting in turning on the kitchen stove and walking away.
Explorationoccurs once a week, between 6:00pm to 8:00pm, resulting in the person being lost outside for at least one hour.

After you take your notes, you will have a better idea of what you should do to minimize any negative effects when they decide to explore.

How to Create a Safe Environment for an Explorer

If we can’t cure a disease, we find a way to live with it. This applies to Dementia as well specfically those who love to explore! In most cases, exploring will continue no matter what. So let’s discuss how we can create an environment for our loved ones with Dementia to explore safely:

Lock Doors When You Are At Home

Always keep the door locked when you are at home. You can also purchase alarm locks for the front door. They only cost $15-$20 on Amazon, and they can help you out a lot by notifying you if your loved one leaves the house.

Add Window Locks

To prevent your loved one from any potental injuries from the wondow, it’s best to add a lock or a screen that cannot be removed.

Paint the Walls the Same Color for Continuity

It may sound novel, but painting the wall the same color or pattern to create a sense of continuity and can actually prevent the desire to explore when it may not be safe to do so.

Install a Door or Gate at the Top of a Stairway

It is especially useful if you have a basement in your house, or your loved one lives on the upper floor of the house, to install a door or gate at the top of the stairway. This prevents slips, falls, and injuries when walking downstairs in the dark or even if your loved one is sleepwalking. Note that the door should always swing away from the stairs, so if your loved one pushes the door too hard and it opens, it won’t let him or her fall because of the force.

Install a Kitchen Door

Sometimes, your loved one feel they may need to cook for the kids in the evening, and it is what we mentioned above – repeating an old routine. When your loved one with dementia wants to use the kitchen, you have to be aware of potential risks. For example, , they may use the oven, microwave and stove, but forget to turn them off after using it. Thus the best solution is to install a kitchen door and keeping it locked when you are not using it.

Hire a Caregiver to Take Care Your Loved One When You Are Not at Home

If you are a busy working person and always have your hands full, it is time to seek help from a professional. Some people who are experiencing dementia and love to explore just want to find company, or find things to do to keep them less busy, so hiring a caregiver would greatly decrease your loved one’s loneliness and boredom. It gives you respite since you don’t have to worry about your loved one when you are away running errands. You may need to look for a home care agency if you have never hired any caregivers before. However, finding a responsible home care agency isn’t easy. See our blog on “Top 10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Home Care Agency”. It will guide you on how to spot the “best match” for you and your loved one.

It took Shannon three months to convince her father to move into a long-term care home, but now she’s facing a new problem: paying for the long-term care home.

Shannon’s father doesn’t have a lot of savings, but she knows her father has pension and other benefits. However, she is not sure if these benefits could cover for a long-term care home, and the response from each community is different.

If you are in Shannon’s shoes, we’ve got your back. Today, we are going to have a thorough conversation on paying for a long-term care home in Canada.

Brace yourself: it’s going to be a lot of information.

How to Pay for a Long-Term Care Home in Canada

Government Pensions

Senior citizens’ most common benefits in Canada are Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan Benefits (CPP).

Old Age Security (OAS)

When a person residing in Canada reaches the age of 65, they are eligible for Old Age Security (OAS). There are three additional supplements to the OAS that allows the senior to gain more benefits:

The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): Old Age Security (OAS) pension recipients eligible for the GIS receive a monthly non-taxable benefits; this is only available to people with a low income who reside in Canada.
The Allowance: OAS participants’ spouses and common-law partners can get an Allowance
Allowance for the Survivor: People with low incomes, reside in Canada, and have lost a spouse or common-law partner are eligible for Allowance for the Survivor.

Canada Pension Plan Benefits (CPP):

Another most used benefit would be the well-known “CPP”. As you may have started putting money in it since your first job. And now, it’s time to return.

A full CPP retirement pension is available at the age of 65, but you can apply for and get it as early as the age of 60 with a reduction, or wait untill as late as the age of 70 with an increase. All those who have contributed to this during the course of their working careers are entitled to a monthly benefit.

An additional benefit for those who have paid into the CPP system while receiving CPP benefits is the Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB). CPP Disability Pension and the CPP Survivor’s Pension are two other variants of CPP. So check your eligibility and “get the most of it.”

Workplace Pension Plan

Many people benefit from workplace pension plans that are privately administered by their employers. So, if your loved one’s employer offers a generous pension, you’re unlikely to have a problem paying for high-quality senior housing.

Investments

Investments means the home equity, savings, and other accounts that allows your loved one to use the money to pay for a long-term care home, rather than dipping into the their monthly benefits.

It also includes dividend stocks, mutual funds, index funds, bonds, Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GIC), etc. They do carry some risks alongside with the rewards, but as long as the market is “favorable”, they can also be used in later life planning. But before you or your loved one make any decision, don’t forget to seek out the advice from an experienced financial counsellor first.

Insurance Products

If your loved one keeps investing in financial products such as long term care insurance, then it is the time to use it during his or her retirement year.

If your loved one is diagnosed with a critical or chronic disease, and are no longer able to care for themselves, long-term care insurance will cover a fixed part of the expenses, tax free. In addition, long-term care insurance may also cover some personal care services, however, it depends on the policies of each home care agency, so consult with the administrator to see if your loved one could get reimbursed.

Personal Savings and Incomes:

If your loved ones have managed to have a lot of savings, or continue to work by choice, then the payment will become much simpler.

Personal savings do not just refer to the money in the account. Equity, Registered Retirement Saving Plans (RRSPs) and investments can also be considered as part of personal savings.

Another common method that many seniors would choose is renting out their primary home and using the rent payment to cover the long-term care home expense.

What If I Can’t Afford Long Term Care Homes?

It happens. The cost of living in a long-term care home could be huge, and not all families can afford the full payment. However, in Canada, there are several financial assistant programs for long-term care that can help seniors spend their later years in peace with fewer expenses.

Government Assistance

Financial Hardship Assistance is a government subsidized service for those who are experiencing significant financial hardship and in a long-term care home. Financial hardship means the client, the client’s spouse, or the client’s children can’t help to pay the following each month:

Food
Mortgage/Rent
Home Energy (Hydro)
Telecommunications (Phone Bills, Internet)
Prescribed Medication
Transportation

The amount that the program offers depends on assessment of the client’s income statement, and how much the family can afford.

Government-Subsidized Nursing Home

Although health insurance in Canada does not pay for nursing-home care, there are government-subsidized nursing homes that offer rates based on the senior’s income. It doesn’t mean that the government will pay the full cost of the nursing home; the residents would still be required to pay a portion of their “room and board”.

In the End:

Paying for a long-term care home does not necessarily mean you have to pay it in full from your pocket. Make sure you plan your finances well, and make the best use of benefits, insurance and tax credits – these will all make the transition go more smoothly.

References:

https://www.comfortlife.ca/retirement-community-resources/funding-options-for-retirement-homes

https://cubetoronto.com/canada/what-happens-if-you-cant-afford-a-nursing-home-in-canada/

https://www.advantageontario.ca/AAO/Content/Resources/Consumers/About_Long_Term_Care

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Amy’s mom has been complaining to her family that the construction on the LTC is too loud and disrupts her rest. Knowing how sleep deficiency could make her mom anxious, Amy reported it to the administrator of the nursing home right after she got the call from her mom.

The administrator promised Amy that the construction would only take three days to finish, so Amy and her mom kept waiting. However, a week went by, and the nursing home is still filled with the loud noises of hammering and drilling.

Now, Amy wants to escalate the issue.

If this sounds familiar to you, and you are wondering how to file a complaint about a nursing home, CareStory is here to help.

Common Complaints:

Millions of senior citizens receive nursing care in North America every year, and some angry residents have a lot to say. Most of these complaints show that residents and family members believe that the quality of care provided is subpar.

Complaints That Are Frequently Raised:

Poor food quality
Staffing issues
Disruptions to rest and sleep
Abuse and neglect
Unmet resident needs
Quality of care
Worker competency
Lack of cooperation with medical care, etc.

Complaints about nursing homes can be sorted as urgent and non-urgent, which require different steps while being reported.

Urgent Complaints:

According to Ontario.ca, urgent complaints include abuse, neglect, harm, and danger to the residents. For example: physical abuse, financial abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, abandonment, etc.

For urgent cases, the optimal approach would be calling or e-mailing the Long-Term Care Family Support and Action Line. The information in the complaint letter should include:

Name of the home
Address of the home
A description of the event
Persons that were involved
How you would like the home to solve the issue

Once the ministry receives your request, they will assess your report and the event. If the complaint is defined as urgent by the ministry, they will take the next step, which is a formal investigation of the nursing home.

In this article, we will include a template of a complaint letter, Feel free to download it!

Non-Urgent Complaints:

While the line between urgent and non-urgent complaints is vague (since everyone’s reaction and interpretation of an event differs), the official explanation from Ontario.ca of non-urgent complaints are cases related to the less severe cases such as diet, activities, or care.

There are many ways to report non-urgent complaints. The easiest way is to report the issue to the home directly. Also, what you should write in the complaint letter is similar to the information required for urgent complaints, which includes the description of the complaint, and how you expect the nursing home to solve it.

Also, you can still report your issue to the Long-Term Care Family Support and Action Line, just like you would in urgent cases. You can also contact your local long term care ombudsman. The responsibility of a long-term care ombudsman is to aid communication between family members and the long-term care home.

If you are unsure about what to write in a complaint letter, below is a free template for you to download. Remember that you always have the right to protect your loved one,

Sample Complaint Letter:

[Note: This template provides structure and guidance for writing a complaint Letter. Simply replace information in brackets [] with your own information and text.]

[Your Name]

[Street Address]

[City, Zip Code]

[Today’s Date]

[Name of Recipient]

[Title]

[Company]

[City, Zip Code]

Dear [Name of Recipient]:

[Short introduction paragraph – provide the name of the long-term care home you are going to complain about. Include dates, locations, and the conclusion of the event.]

[State the specifics of the event. Describe the persons who got involved, and what consequence the event resulted in.]

[Indicate how you would like them to resolve the problem. Provide the result that you are seeking. This may include reimbursement.]

[Indicate that you are looking forward to their reply within a specific time (choose a reasonable time period). Indicate you will wait for their reply before pursuing other options such as legal counsel or ombudsman’s assistance.]

[Indicate they can contact you about the issue and provide a contact number.]

Sincerely (or Respectfully Yours),

(Sign here for letters sent by mail or fax)

[Typed Name]

What-Is-Elder-Financial-Abuse-In-Long-Term-Care-Homes-1200x675.jpg

A 97-year-old woman with dementia has found that tens of thousands of dollars are missing from her bank account without her knowledge, so she reported it to her bank.

The bank has found that all her money was transfered to another person’s account – the woman’s power of attorney.

However, when the police asked the power of attorney about the money, the power of attorney said it was because the the woman wanted her to have the money and leave everything to her.

You might be confused about who is telling the truth, but this is a real case that happened in Ontario, Canada, back in 2020, and is a typical example of elder financial abuse.

What is Elder Financial Abuse?

According to the definition. Elder financial abuse means “any inappropriate behavior, with or without the informed consent of the older person, that results in monetary or personal gain for the abuser and/or monetary or personal loss for the older person.” which means elder financial abuse is the most common form of elder abuse.
Trust takes years to build, but destruction takes only seconds and can have a serious impact on a person’s health.
In the story above, the woman’s savings were misappropriated by someone she trusted and was destroyed both financially and emotionally. It sounds harsh, but unfortunately, that’s how most stories of financial abuse in older adults go.

Financial abuse can be categorized into the following three ways:

Stealing an elder’s valuables
Taking control of an elder’s power of attorney
Using the elder’s cash or credit cards without permission

Most of these cases are done by someone that the older person trusts, or someone who has always been with the senior – which means they could be family, friends, lawyers, or caregivers.

Today, we are going to talk about elder financial abuse that happens in long-term care homes, and what we could do about it as their family.

How to Recognize If Someone Is Experiencing Financial Abuse

Your Loved One Suddenly Has a New Good Friend”

When family members are not around, older adults tend to seek companionship. Therefore, they become more vulnerable and passive when people with bad intentions approach them. It is important to be on the lookout for any new “friendships” that seniors may form. If your loved one begins to rely on this new “best friend” in many ways, even defending their relationship when you have doubts. It is not a good sign, as a good friendship will not keep this person out of their family.

Reporting Missing Belongings

If your loved one starts to complain about losing or missing something, it could be that someone has taken them from him or her. Note that seniors with cognitive impairment such as dementia may accuse others of stealing from them as well, so it is better to observe for a period of time to see if it is true.

Unusual Banking Activity

If you and your loved one have a joint account and see unusual activity. For example, a large bank withdrawal, or a large payment to an unfamiliar account. That’s when it’s time to pay attention! This would be a “deadly trap” where someone is pressuring or enticing your loved one to make a payment, or worse! Your loved one’s card is stolen or controlled by someone else. This would be a “dead giveaway” that someone is pressuring or enticing your loved one to pay, or worse, if your loved one’s card is stolen or controlled by someone else.

Sudden Change Of Will Or Power Of Attorney

As in the story above. You already know that a financial power of attorney represents the financial and legal affairs of a client. Therefore, if it is transferred to someone other than a close friend or family member for no apparent reason. This would be a red flag that someone is trying to take advantage of you.
There are some other indicators. Such as signed documents that the senior does not understand, overdue bills and a decline in standard of living. Seniors may not notice these signs, so it is the family’s responsibility to watch their financial situation. There are many agencies and programs designed to combat financial exploitation, and you should get them involved as soon as any of these signs appear.

How To Report Elder Financial Abuse

Financial Institutions

Remember what you do when you have suspicious activities going on in your bank account? For senior financial abuse, the bank and credit unions can help to investigate if there’s any misappropriation happening to the card holder as well. If the case is confirmed, the employees at the financial institution will report it as financial abuse immediately.

Law Enforcement Agencies

It is always crucial to work with the police and investigate the abuse. Financial exploitation is a crime and you have right to report it and protect your loved one. Also, it will help to prevent more victims from falling into the trap of financial fraudsters.

Long-Term Care Regulation Institutions And Senior Abuse Prevention Lines

There are many long-term care regulation institutions across North America. In Ontario, we have the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that is in charge of this. The ombudsman will investigate and escalate the case for you. In addition, you can call the senior’s safety line, where staff will be on the line 24/7 for you, and it is toll free.

How To Prevent Financial Abuse As Their Family

Prevention is better than a cure. It is always good to prevent senior financial exploitation before it is too late. There are some ways to help you with it, which include:

Signing Up For Services That Track Their Account

You can use tracking tools such as EverSafe to track missing deposits, unexplained withdrawals, or abrupt changes in spending patterns that take place in your loved one’s account. Or, you can have a joint account with your loved one and see the activity.

Setting Up a Trusted Contact For the Account

If there is abnormal activity going on in the account and the bank is unable to reach the one who holds the account. Then, the bank will report it to the account’s trusted contact. The trusted contact may be given access to the account’s details as a view only user. However, he or she will be unable to make any transactions on account holder’s behalf.

Staying In Touch With Your Loved One

Nothing is better than maintaining a close relationship with your loved one. In fact, more senior financial abuse cases happen to the ones who are chronically lonely. After all, if your loved ones can’t reach you when they need, they can only trust the people that approach them

Geting To Know Their Caregivers

No matter if it is in-home care or long-term care, it is important for the family to know the caregiver of their loved one. In one of our previous blog posts, we talked about how screening caregivers is crucial in the hiring process (Top 10 Questions To Ask When Hiring A Home Care Agency). Screening and observing do not stop after you hire the caregiver. Do this by using the CareStory profile service, which will allow you to track caregiver activities during care.

References:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/power-of-attorney-seniors-elder-abuse-senior-financial-crime-1.5476820

https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/elder-abuse/types/financial-abuse/

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/prevent-elder-financial-exploitation.html

https://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/en-ca/insights/financial-elder-abuse-five-common-signs-

The question of whether to send our ageing parents to a long-term care home or not is a question that has been distressing Amy and her sister for months. As their father’s primary caregiver, Amy finds it getting harder and harder to keep up with the speed of his aging.

“I really do think we should send dad to a long-term care home,” says Amy. “They have better equipment and professionals to deal with any situations that may occur.”

“Well, sending him to a novel environment could only exacerbate his symptoms,” replied Amy’s sister. “And he clearly said he’ll never leave the house. If you are feeling overwhelmed, we can hire a caregiver for him.”

“It’s not about me feeling tired and overwhelmed,” sighed Amy. “It’s about him getting a better quality of care.” “Frankly speaking, you don’t really know his situation. After all, it has been me taking care of him all this time.”

Another unpleasant conversation ends, just like usual.

Keeping ageing parents at home may cause distress for many families, but sending them to a long-term care home isn’t a panacea to every problem, either – there are pros and cons you need to take into account to make the best solution for you and your family.

Today, we are going to talk about the good and the not-so-good in each option. Hope it helps to make your decision easier.

Let’s get started.

What’s Good About Aging In Place?

1. Familiarity

First and foremost, familiarity is the main reason why seniors want to age at home. Familiarity of the home environment provides security for senior. Living in a familiar surrounding can ensure happiness and comfortability, which is greatly beneficial for seniors’ well-being.

2. Remaining Independent

Although some seniors need companionship and helpers with their daily activities, they still care about their independence. Ageing at home makes seniors think they are still capable of taking care of themselves, which will further help them to acquire the ability to live independently; a virtuous circle for healthy seniors.

3. More Control Of Life

Who doesn’t love freedom? Ageing in place allows seniors to have more control of choosing the lifestyle they want. For example, instead of following the routine and diet that other people have set for them, they can have their own flexible schedule and preferences when it comes to food. This, again, maintains independence for seniors.

4. Closer amily Bonds

Whether family members are living with the senior or not, it is more helpful in maintaining good family relationships if your loved one stays at home. Family members can visit the senior whenever they want and can spend more time doing fun things together. Home is always home, no matter how far you travel – it is always a place for you to reunite.

However, There Are Drawbacks

1. Physical Safety

Without question, the home environment can’t provide enough safety measures for seniors, especially those with mobility issues. Remodeling a home for seniors to live takes time and effort, but in not doing so, seniors may experience a deterioration of their symptoms in a very short time. We have all heard about the tragedies of seniors falling down and not getting help in time, leading to agonizing consequences for both the senior and the family.

2. Nutrition

Some seniors with mobility or cognitive issues may be unable to prepare meals, or go grocery shopping, which may lead to malnutrition. Hiring a caregiver or even someone to cook may help with this.

3. Increased Responsibility For Families

Just like Amy, seniors who live at home will certainly increase the workload of their families. Especially when the children have their own career or family to focus on, squeezing time from their hectic life to take care of their ageing parents may not be beneficial for both parties. In this case, hiring a caregiver may relieve the burden a lot.

4. Isolation

Many grown up children choose not to live with parents, and when they live too far, senior isolation may occur. We have previously published a post on “Senior Isolation” and explained how detrimental it could be to the senior’s quality of life. So, check it out and see how to decrease the harm if you are not able to be around your loved one enough.

Now, let’s talk about seniors living in a long-term care home.

What’s Good About Living In A Long-Term Care Home?

1. Staffed With Professionals To Meet Different mMedical Needs

There are not just personal care workers in long-term care homes. In fact, some long-term care homes provide various professionals that focus on different conditions, and even emergency situations. Plus, the care they provide is around the clock, which is something barely achievable for in-home care.

2. Seniors Have Social Connections With Staff & Other Residents

Maintaining a social circle is specifically important for seniors. Long-term care homes create multiple opportunities for seniors to actively engage in social interactions. These opportunities include various clubs, social events, performance and volunteer opportunities. Participating in these activities can give seniors a sense of purpose, prevent loneliness and improve their social skills, which in turn benefits the seniors’ relationships with their families.

3. Suitable For Seniors With Cognitive & Mobility Impairment

Long-term care communities are designed for seniors with different types of challenges. Most have alert systems and different accessible equipment. All long-term care homes need to follow the government’s design manuals to ensure their residents to age safely.

4. Relieves Burden On Senior’s Families

If the senior requires a lot of care, sending him or her to a long-term care home greatly alleviates some burden for families. It’s not only about decreasing care duties, but also about relieving financial obligations. Hiring a full time caregiver, in most cases, is more expensive than living in a long-term care home.

There Are Drawbacks, Too.

1. Seniors May Need Time For Transition

Although there’s “home” in “long-term care home”, it’s hard for strange places to feel like “home” immediately once moving there. It usually takes quite a period of time for seniors to adapt to their new life in long-term care communities, and such a transition could result in many negative psychological and physical responses. See our blog post on “Tackling Fear And Anxiety During The Transition Into Long-Term Care” to see the details.

2. Loss Of Dependency Make Seniors Feel “Old”

Yes, your loved one is old according to his or her age, but no one wants to “feel old” and “live old”. Living in a long-term care community may make the seniors feel that they have lost independence and privacy. This would make them feel “old” and “vulnerable”, which is not good for both the seniors and the staff. Seniors may behave strangely in the way that they feel about themselves.

3. More Preparation Is Required On Choosing The Right Long-erm Care Home

In our provious blog post on “How to Select a Long-Term Care Home”, (CTA)we discussed how it takes a lot of time and effort to choose a “good” home for your loved one. If you haven’t read it yet and are considering whether or not to send your family to a long-term care home, check it out now and don’t forget to download the free checklist!

4. Not Easy For Family Members To Visit

Long-term care homes aren’t like shopping malls – you need to make appointments to visit most of the time, especially during a pandemic. Some long-term care homes may even cancel visitation depending on the circumstances. In that, the family members may feel rejected and distant from their loved ones.

At the End:

There are many factors you need to consider when deciding on whether to send your loved one to a long-term care home or let them stay at home. It’s important to communicate with your loved one and respect their feelings. So, instead of deciding “for” your loved one, try deciding “with” them. Respect and empathy are always important traits of happy senior living.

References:

https://www.innovativehomecare.com/home-care-vs-nursing-home/

https://environmental-conscience.com/nursing-homes-pros-cons/

https://www.caringseniorservice.com/blog/home-care-vs-nursing-home

“Just one more week, your mom would be good to go.” Says the doctor.

Jane’s mom just finished her pacemaker implantation surgery, and it went perfectly well. Now, it’s time for home.

Excited yet overwhelmed, Jane feels like she’s not ready for her mom’s to come back home – she knows there are so many things to do to welcome her, and she’s feeling lost.

We feel you.

Helping your loved one recover from surgeries requires patience, organization, and well-thought-out planning. Here are some helpful tips for seniors recovering from surgery at home.

Things You Should Do to Help Your Loved One Recover from Surgery at Home

Talk to the medical team

If you don’t trust yourself, trust the professionals. The very first step you should take is to speak with the medical staff who’s caring for your loved one.

To ensure that your loved one’s recovery from the surgery is as successful as possible, ask them the following questions and take notes; these questions will help you through the whole process of caring.

How long will the recovery take?
What medication and supplement will we need?
How to help him or her get better faster?
Physical and nutrition plans?
What behaviours should be done/avoided during the recovery?

Stock up items that your loved one would need

This step will be done after you consult the medical professionals. Once your shopping list is done, it’s time to head to pharmacies and grocery stores to stock up all the items. What drugs does your loved one need? the foods that your loved one will eat? Are there any things she or he needs to help with the recovery? It is good to prepare the stuff ahead of time.

Create a safe environment for them

Senior’s at-home recovery always requires additional preparation than younger people. Other than purchasing things like compression socks or elevation pillow according to their needs, you can make the home environment safer and more comfortable by installing grab bars and nightlights, while removing unnecessary staff that might cause falls or slips. Put phone, lamp, and other frequently used items accessible around your loved one’s bed – a little makes a huge difference, your family will appreciate all these details.

Plan their diet

it should be cleared when your loved one is about to leave the hospital. Follow the nutritionist’ advice, or search for a diet that is complementary to their recovery. Also, don’t forget to encourage your loved one to eat and drink. Some patients lose appetites after a surgery, but you should ensure they gain enough nutrients to expedite the recovery.

Observe and help

Recovery is usually a long and frustrating process, and the patients may not notice the change to their physical and medical conditions themselves. So they will need your efforts to detect if there’s any change during the healing process, and offer help when they need it.

Be attentive to their emotions

There are so many uncertainties during the recovery process! So it is normal that your loved one becomes more sensitive than usual. As their family, you should be careful about what you say or act. Also, you can take them to some recreation activities or provide them some entertainment. See our blog on “How to Accompany a Senior” to find the details.

We are always kids no matter how old we grow, playing fun games would excite your senior family, too.

Accompany them to follow-up appointment

Some seniors are able to go to the follow-up appointments themselves. But it is still helpful if someone would accompany them to finish this task. It will not only allow you to know how to take care of your family better, but also give you a sense of participation. By doing so, you are basically telling them that: “you are not alone, I’m always here for you.”

Ask for help when you need it

Taking care of a patient can be stressful, so if you feel that it is getting hard for you to keep up all the work, don’t be afraid to reach for help.

You can hire an in-home caregiver to come home regularly, and help your loved one with dressing, bathing and housekeeping. It will be a life saver for you if you are a busy person.

Hiring a caregiver does take some work to do, too. Don’t panic, CareStory has prepared you 10 questions to ask on the way of looking for a home care agency.

References:

https://www.homecareassistancedesmoines.com/how-to-help-aging-adults-at-home-following-surgery/

https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/insurance/long-term-care.html

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John’s father had a stroke a few years ago and now he can no longer take good care of himself. As the situation worsened, his father started to show signs of loss of bladder and bowel control.

What is Fecal Incontinence and What Causes it?

Fecal incontinence is an inability to control bowel movements, which may result in stool leakage. It happens especially when a person is trying to expel gas, and the stoolpasses without control.

While diarrhea and gastroenteritis might cause temporary fecal incontinence (FL), it can also be caused by some long-term illness or natural aging.

For seniors, FL can occur due to age related deterioration in the bowel’s muscles and neurons. Chronic constipation can also contribute to FL as well, since the stool “overflows” from the rectum if impacted.

Other Causes:

In addition, stress and fear that are caused by temporary changes in their environment can lead to FL in seniors. So, when a senior moves to a new long-term care home, they may be more likely to be stressed and have bowel leakage.

Some seniors with physical disabilities would also have higher chance of FL. This is easy to understand since they have difficulties in reaching a toilet.

How to Take Care of Someone with Fecal Incontinence (FL)

Identify the Cause

Once you have found the root, you are safe to proceed to the next step.

Make Dietary Changes

Another way to prevent FL is by making some dietary adjustments.

If chronic constipraion is the underlying issue, fibre can play a significant role in decreasing symptoms. Increasing fluid intake can also ease constipation and prevent such accidents.

Exercises

Step One: Find Your Pelvic Floor Muscle

Step Two: Make Sure Your Bladder Is Empty, And Find a Comfortable Position

Empty your bladder to prevent urine leakages during the exercise. Then, you can sit or lie down to find a position that’s comfortable for you.

Step Three: Tighten Your Pelvic Floor Muscles, And Hold For 5 Seconds.

Step Four: Relax The Muscle For 3 Seconds.

Step Five: Repeat 10 times, 3 Times a Day.

Bowel Training

Encourage regular toileting and reduce the likelihood of accidents. This, however, takes time to show results.

This is especially meaningful for people with physical disabilities. So set up a schedule that works for them to have a bowel movement, and stick to the schedule, so incidents of leakage and overflow can be prevented.

Increase Hygiene

Stools may cause skin irritation, so regular cleaning and maintaining skin integrity is very important. If the person is using an absorbent product, change it regularly and constantly, so that it won’t cause further discomfort.

At the End:

Fecal incontinence may be embarrassing for both the senior and the family. If you think it causes too much work for you, it is always better to seek extra help such as hiring a caregiver to handle it.

Loss of hearing is a common phenomenon that occurs among seniors. The natural aging process will lead to a decrease in our senses, and this includes our hearing. However, there are a few factors that can expedite this process, such as medications, noisy environments, chronic fatigue, and emotions.

Today, we are going to provide you with some useful tips on how to communicate happily and smoothly with a loved one who has hearing loss. Let’s jump in!

What Is the Best Way to Communicate with a Hearing Impaired Loved One?

Find a Quiet Place or Reduce Background Noise

Your loved one may not know you are talking in a noisy environment, so when you are trying to raise your voice, there’s a very high chance that she or he thinks you are shouting and angry. So, make sure there is no music or television playing in the background.

Public places like restaurants with a lot of noise and crowds would make conversation difficult. Selecting locations with fewer background noises and less congested areas can greatly improve communication and reduce distractions.

Get Their Attention, and Face Them While Talking

Before speaking, you need to first get their attention. This can be accomplished by touching them on the arm or shoulder in a proper way, and not from behind.

Make sure you are making eye contact, and keep the light on your face. Sometimes, it is also helpful to say their names in a polite way; being respectful is always the key in a conversation.

Keep Tour Hands/Mask Away From Your Face While Talking

Same as maintaining adequate illumination on your face while talking, patients with hearing loss need to read your lips. So get rid of your mask or anything that would block your mouth and let your loved one “read” your words.

Speak Clearly and Loudly

As we mentioned in our previous blog post, “How To Communicate With Seniors” , you need to speak clearly, and raise your voice if needed (but don’t scream). Do not speak too quickly or too slowly, and don’t use slang that elderly people may not understand.

Rephrase Your Question or Statement

When your loved one seems to not understand what you mean or not hear what you say, try rephrasing it in another way.

Sometimes your loved one may be confused about certain words, so simply repeating your statement isn’t helpful. Try shortening or simplifying your words and see their reaction.

Make Wse of Body Language and Visual Cues

Your posture and facial expression conveys emotion, while visual cues provide instruction. However, since facial expressions and nonverbal movements provide additional information, don’t exaggerate them, as they may be distracting.

You can also use aids to deliver your information, such as writing it down, or typing it on your phone and showing it to the person.

Ask Them How They Prefer to Communicate

Communication with seniors often requires cooperative efforts. So, it is never a bad idea to inquire about the other person’s preferred method of communication – if verbal isn’t the best for them, ask them if they would like to use any aid such as phones or sticky notes.

In the End

If you have tried many methods to communicate but the condition continues to worsen, it is better to do a hearing test. Specialists will offer potential solutions and techniques to help with hearing problems.

Food has always been the main attraction at family reunions regardless of culture and race, and it is especially prominent in Jen’s family.

Today is the day that Jen picks up her mom from the nursing home, and welcomes her back home. Jen has put a lot of effort into preparing this family reunion dinner, and she had been studying recipes for the past few weeks, just to make sure her mom would be satisfied.

This is very normal among seniors. In fact, nearly 5% of seniors who are over 75 years old have chronic issues with their sense of smell. Loss of smell and taste occurs when people enter their 60s, and some start as early as 40s.

What Causes Loss of Smell and Taste?

Consequence of Loss of Smell and Tast

Our five senses are gifts from nature, and a disappearance of any one of them would lead to serious consequences.

Safety Issue

Change in Dietary Habit

Decreased Quality of Life

Food brings happiness, and that’s why human beings are so enthusiastic about food. If an individual experiences loss of smell and taste, feasts are no longer appealing, and he or she may find it hard to reminisce by the smell of certain foods.

Smells have the power to evoke deep feelings and memories in humans. So, one’s quality of life might be severely hampered by the diminished or distorted perception of smell.

How to Help Your Loved One with Change in Sense of Smell & Taste

Get Checked

First and foremost, get checked by a doctor. You can book a nasal examination for your loved one to see if there’s inflammation or something else, such as COVID-19. Sometimes it emerges from collective issues, and loss of smell is just a signal of more troubles down the road.

Encourage Him or Her to Eat

Follow Nutrition Guides

Label Foods with Dates Clearly

Make Sure the Gas Detectors and Fire Alarms are Working

Everyone knows Steve – the toughest and most obstinate man in the long-term care home. It is very difficult to convince him to do anything, which also includes welcoming his grandson’s dog, a three-year-old yellow lab.

“I hate dogs! They are annoying and dirty,” shouted Steve, speaking to his son on FaceTime. “Don’t ever bring that thing here…I won’t even let it in!”

Apparently, Steve’s grandson was even more uncompromising than his grandpa. He still brought the dog to the long-term care home, two weeks after the FaceTime call. His grandson gave: “The dog can’t be left in the house alone.”

The first greeting wasn’t so pleasant. Steve looked at the dog and angrily asked his son why he had brought him. However, the dog wasn’t aware of Steve’s disgust – he put his paw on Steve’s knee and wagged his tail happily, as if he were saying, “Hi Steve, it’s nice to meet you!”

After two hours of visiting, the family decided to go back. “Hey, why don’t you just leave the dog here since you will be in the city for a week,” requested Steve. “You said yourself that the dog can’t be left alone. I think I can take care of him.”

It may have been surprising for a man like Steve to say that, but it did not surprise anyone that day. Everyone witnessed how happy and gentle Steve was when he was playing with the dog and how he made Steve another different person – a person that no one had ever seen.

“Maybe animals are magic,” joked Steve’s caregiver. “They can do the tricks that we can’t.”

What Is Pet Therapy?

Pet Therapy is a type of therapy that uses specially trained animals to offer affection and comfort to a community or a single individual. It is being used in a variety of organisations, including hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, and retirement and assisted living homes.

There are three different types of pet therapy: Facility Therapy, Animal-Assisted Therapy, and Therapeutic Visitation.

Facility Therapy refers to having the pets reside at the care home and trained to monitor dementia patients. At the same time, Assisted Therapy means a specific individual owns a trained pet in the assisted living community and receives a more intensive treatment.