5 Ways To Boost Mental Health In Seniors

If you are a caregiver for a senior in Florida, you may be noticing that their mental state is deteriorating, and it’s affecting your relationship with them. It’s just as important to take care of the mental health of our aging loved ones as it is to take care of their physical health!

1. Stay socially active

Socializing with friends and family is a great way to boost mental health in seniors. Staying connected to others helps keep you mentally stimulated and reduces feelings of loneliness or isolation.

There are a number of ways that you can get involved with the social spheres around you!

Join a club

There are likely many clubs and organizations in your community that caters to seniors. This can be a great way to meet new people, stay active, and learn about your community.

Volunteer

Doing volunteer work is a great way to boost mental health in seniors. You’ll meet new people and help out your community while gaining a sense of purpose by volunteering. Volunteering can also be an excellent way for seniors to try something new and take on challenges they never thought possible before.

Hire a home health care nurse

If you opt for in home health care in Seminole, your loved one will always have a companion to socialize with and keep them mentally stimulated. Whether you hire a home health care nurse to stay with your loved one at their residence or yours, the companionship is sure to help!

Visit family more often

If you have family living close by, make an effort to visit more often! Spending time with your loved ones is a great way to boost mental health in seniors. You’ll also get to spend time with people that you care about and who are excited to see you. These visits can be therapeutic for both of you!

2. Get active

Whether you used to be an athlete or if exercise isn’t your forte, there are plenty of ways to get moving!

Take a walk

Taking a walk is a simple way to boost mental health in seniors. Walking is excellent for your heart and can help improve circulation. It’s also a low-impact activity that requires little physical exertion, making it easy for just about anyone to fit into their day.

Go swimming

Getting in touch with your aquatic side is a great way to boost mental health in seniors! Swimming is an excellent full-body workout that can help strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. It’s also a form of cardio that doesn’t stress the joints, making it a great choice for seniors with mobility issues.

3. Take up a new hobby

Hobbies are another excellent way to boost mental health in seniors. Taking up a new hobby is a great way to try out something new and exciting and put your all into it!

Whether you’ve always wanted to learn how to paint, play an instrument, or speak Spanish, there’s no time like the present! Making the effort to learn something new will help you develop new skills, broaden your horizons, and keep your brain active!

4. Eat healthily

Eating right is an essential part of staying healthy, especially as you age! Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables will help keep your mind sharp while promoting overall health.

A home health care nurse in Seminole can help you develop good eating habits or meal plans to keep you on track.

5. Get plenty of sleep

Getting enough sleep is crucial for everyone, but it’s especially important for seniors! Getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep every night will help your mind and body stay rested, alert, and rejuvenated.

If you or your loved one is having trouble sleeping at night, make an effort to take care of their bedtime routine. That could mean anything from making sure they’re drinking enough water throughout the day to taking out any electronics an hour before bed.

Conclusion

Maintaining good mental health is crucial at any age, but it’s vital for seniors! By following these five tips, you can help your loved one stay sharp, happy, and healthy!

If you want to learn more about caregiving, reach out to No Place like Home Care, a provider of in home health care for seniors in Seminole.

Challenges Faced By In-Home Caregivers During COVID-19

Physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals are at the forefront of the fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. They are the first in line – they care for the coronavirus patients and they are exposed to the virus daily. Even medical professionals who are not currently working with COVID-19 patients have to take adequate precautions, especially if the pandemic expands.

But medical professionals are not the only professionals exposed to the threats of the new pandemic. Although hospitals received a lot of attention during the past few months, nursing homes and other establishments offering long term support for senior citizens have also been affected. Data shows that nursing homes across the country have registered thousands of deaths caused by the novel coronavirus.

Another sector that was massively affected by the coronavirus outbreak is the senior home care service sector. This sector is hugely important when it comes to offering long term support for senior citizens and it employs thousands of professionals. These are the people who come into contact with vulnerable seniors every day, in their homes. Home health aides, personal care assistants, nurses, therapists, and other professionals come into contact with seniors every day across the country. Recent data shows that about 5 million Americans receive some form of paid home care, so the risk caused by the pandemic is immense. Now, senior home care agencies will have to offer support both to senior citizens and for patients recovering from COVID-19, so special safety precautions must be implemented.There’s an increased demand for senior home care in Tampa

The home care sector was understaffed even before the coronavirus outbreak. Agencies were always looking for new staff and training was provided to all new members. Now, considering the new challenges, the need for qualified, experienced staff is even more drastic.

The reason behind this increased need is simple – not all coronavirus patients require hospitalization. Only critical or serious cases are handled by hospitals. All other cases are treated at home – and this is where the personal care assistants and home care aides come into action. Also, some patients that were discharged from the hospital will require more care at home, which is often done by these professionals. Older adults, who cannot properly take care of themselves are usually the clients for home care agencies. Similarly, many patients who already suffer from underlying medical conditions will be less inclined to visit hospitals, preferred home care services.

The data is clear – the market for senior home care in Tampa is already growing and will expand even more. There will be a high demand for these services. This will be a major advantage for the medical sector, as it will be less stressed, with fewer patients handled directly. Simply put, only the serious cases will be admitted to the hospital, all other cases will be handled by home care agencies.

People working in this sector have the qualifications needed to work with seniors and have extensive experience. However, the new threats posed by the coronavirus pandemic create new challenges. There are underlying factors as well. For instance, about 90 percent of the home care workforce consists of women. 60 percent of them don’t have a college degree and many of them come from various religious and ethnic minority groups, who were hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic. What’s more, one in five of these workers lacks health insurance and their median age is 49 years. Similarly, they receive some of the lowest salaries in the economy, hovering around $10 to $12 per hour.

Many workers also travel extensively, from one home to another, often multiple times a day. This increases the risk of infection, both for the worker and the patient. This creates an additional problem – many potential candidates refuse to work as personal care assistants or home care aides.

How can these workers stay safe? How can they protect themselves and the seniors they care for? What are the recommendations for these workers? Let’s take a closer look:

• all home care workers must have access to excellent personal protective equipment – this includes masks, gloves, and other protective equipment

• all home care workers and their clients need regular COVID-19 testing

• all home care workers should be employed as full-time employees, with paid sick leave and good health insurance, particularly during the pandemic

• more flexibility is needed in the sector, especially during the ongoing pandemic; some care can be given via telephone or video conferencing; telehealth is allowed for some senior home care agencies; virtual, remote training for staff can also be improved

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should expand the definition of home health in order to include personal care as well; this will help clients who are socially isolated or overcrowd nursing homes; this will also help patients because Medicare will be able to pay for these services

• CMS must also expand the definition of homebound to care qualify for home care services

• Federal funding should be available in order to support this system; this will help reduce the stress on the medical system, which is already overwhelmed and overcrowded

• More home care workers and personal assistants should be hired in the coming months; these employees can come from industries which were particularly affected by the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, such as the hospitality sector; these individuals must be trained for their new roles

• As the need for senior home care in Tampa rises and home care workers provide more complex services, they will need better training; a proper authorization process must be implemented and their compensation should be adequate; in many cases, home care workers do tasks reserved to better trained registered nurses or licensed practical nurses

• The profound deficit in-home care worker training must be dealt with; this type of career needs more growth opportunities, better pay and more training

Promoting Mental Health for Seniors Citizens

The world population is aging rapidly. The problem is global, and few countries are unaffected, especially in the more developed sections of the world. WHO’s estimates show that between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 will nearly double, from 12 to 22 percent.

Senior citizens, usually defined as the people aged 60 and above, are important in modern society. They make critical contributions to society, as active participants in the economy as experienced workers, as family members or volunteers in charitable organizations. Although most seniors have good mental health, they are at a higher risk of developing various mental disorders. Neurological disorders, substance abuse as well as chronic disease are also particularly visible medical conditions affecting senior citizens. What’s more, senior citizens are more likely to experience more medical conditions at the same time.

Mental health is a serious concern for companies that provide home care in Tampa. The best senior home care in Tampa agencies often work with psychiatrists and psychologists in order to prevent, monitor, and treat mental health issues that affect senior citizens.

The main problem

As mentioned above, the number of senior citizens is expected to double by 2050. In absolute numbers, estimates show that there will be about 2 billion seniors worldwide. This is a massive number, and society will have to adapt in order to provide specialized services to seniors, especially when it comes to health. Many seniors face specific medical challenges, both physical and mental, that have to be dealt with professionally.

Recent data from WHO shows that about 20 percent of adults aged 60 and over suffer from some form of neurological or mental disorder (common headache disorders are excluded). What’s more, 6.6 percent of all types of disability are attributed to mental health conditions. The most common disorders are depression and dementia, which affect 5 to 7 percent of the world’s senior population, respectively. Anxiety is also very common, affecting an estimated 3.8 percent of seniors. Substance abuse affects about 1 percent of senior adults.

Unfortunately, mental health problems often go under- or unidentified by healthcare professionals. This happens if seniors choose to stay at home and don’t seek medical attention when needed. Agencies providing home care in Tampa often work with psychiatrists and provide mental health services to seniors. Accordingly, mental disorders rarely go unidentified if older citizens receive excellent medical senior home care in Tampa.

Risk factors related to mental disorders

There are a lot of risk factors related to mental health disorders. The risk factors can have a negative impact at any point in life, but they are less aggressive. Older people may feel these factors as more stressful. Similarly, the support system provided by the community is often less effective when compared to younger people. Major risk factors for senior citizens are the decline in functional ability as well as the loss in mental and physical capacities. For instance, older citizens often experience chronic pain, reduced mobility, frailty, various long-term diseases and may require constant care. Socio-economically, senior citizens may face a drop in social status, as they can no longer work and be productive. Additionally, financial issues can be quite problematic for many seniors.

Another major risk factor is abuse. Older citizens are particularly vulnerable to abuse, both in the family or in hospital or nursing home establishments. The abuse can range from physical and psychological, to verbal, financial, and even sexual abuse. The victims often feel a sense of abandonment, neglect, a serious loss of respect and dignity. When these types of abuse occur long term, the negative consequences can be dramatic, causing depression and anxiety.

Dementia

Dementia is the most common mental health disorder among senior citizens. Medically, dementia is considered a syndrome, usually of progressive and chronic nature. The main symptoms include a deterioration in memory, thinking, and behavior. Those affected often lose the ability to perform everyday activities safely. Dementia usually affects older people, but it is not a normal part of aging.

WHO estimates that about 50 million people are living with dementia worldwide. 60 percent of dementia patients live in low- and middle-income economies. This number is expected to rise to 82 million by 2030 and to 152 million by 2050. Dementia causes immense pressure on medical systems in many countries. Families, caregivers, hospitals, nursing homes, and agencies providing senior home care in Tampa struggle to support these patients and create a better environment for them. As the numbers of dementia patients are expected to rise, these problems will persist, so efficient methods of dealing with this terrible disease must be implemented.

Depression

Depression occurs in about 7 percent of the older population. It’s also a major cause of disabilities for senior citizens. Depression often goes undiagnosed, both at home and in hospital or long term care establishments. Symptoms are difficult to observe, mainly because they co-occur with other problems encountered by senior adults. Older citizens suffering from depression have poorer functioning when compared to seniors suffering from other chronic diseases, like hypertension, diabetes, and lung disease. Depression also has an immense impact on the perception of poor health, as well as the utilization of health care services.

Mental health promotion

Mental health can be improved among senior citizens by promoting active and healthy aging. Nursing homes, hospitals, and agencies providing home care in Tampa must implement a strategy that promotes the wellbeing of senior citizens. Here are some things to pay attention to in order to improve seniors’ mental health:

• providing freedom and security

• providing adequate, safe housing, within a supportive environment, including group and interactive activities

• providing social support both for senior citizens and their caregivers

• programs designed to prevent and deal with elder abuse, as well as a support system for the victims

• providing community development programs, where seniors are encouraged to try new hobbies, interests and enjoy new activities

• providing special programs for seniors living in remote, rural or disadvantaged areas, especially for those who suffer from chronic or relapsing mental health conditions