Aging In Place Archives - Green Tree Home Care

Reader Question: My mom is ninety-two years old. She weighs 62 lbs and has been diagnosed with dementia. She doesn’t want to eat. What can I do? How do I deal with this trauma of dementia and weight loss!

First, let me begin by offering a virtual hug. I can feel your sadness through the keyboard, and you are certainly not alone. Let me say, you are brave, you are allowed to feel sad, and you are doing an amazing job by taking the time to educate yourself.

I have seen many adult children heartbroken over the changes their loved one’s experience during a dementia journey. There is no easy way to navigate the mental and physical changes your mom is experiencing. But, I will do my best to offer some advice that might help a bit.

Dementia and weight loss

Before the changes in speech and the obvious lapses in memory, one of the first sneaky signs of dementia is changing weight. Weight loss can be the result of many things including positive lifestyle changes and illness.

But, when weight loss is dramatic or continues over a long period of time unintentionally, it may deserve a closer look. As dementia progresses body composition may continue to change.

When a person is diagnosed with dementia it is very important to monitor both fluid and food intake.

Why does dementia affect weight loss?

Dementia is an umbrella term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.

The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s. But, other conditions may contribute to dementia including Parkinson’s and Stroke.

The point is, dementia may be a cognitive condition, but it affects the whole body. There may be several reasons a loved one experiences unintended weight loss.

Loss of interest in food

As a care provider I have spent considerable time with senior adults talking about food and meal planning. For those struggling with dementia and weight loss, there is often a disconnect between the feeling of hunger and the actions required to meet that need. As people age, they may experience a loss of taste making food less appealing.

I can’t tell you the number of times I have seen a person with dementia say no to food only to clean the plate once placed in front of her.

Helpful tip: offer prepared food that is appetizing and in line with your loved one’s tastes. Make sure to show the food and make it easy to eat and enjoy.

Inability to process food

Sometimes weight loss occurs because the body become less efficient in processing food. It is important to have your loved one seen by a medical professional if you notice rapid or persistent unintended weight loss. There may be an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

Helpful tip: track your loved one’s weight. And keep good notes on food intake. Regularly share this information with your chosen medical professional.

Confusion on how to eat

As dementia progresses, one simple task become complex series of activities. Even using a fork or managing coordination from plate to mouth becomes impossible. Make sure your loved one isn’t giving up on food out of frustration or fear.

Inability to recognize food happens to some people with dementia. I remember my grandfather helping himself to a huge serving of potpourri before a family member recognized this nonfood item on his plate. The same confusion can happen with once loved food items.

Helpful tip: Don’t crowd a plate and keep items separated. Use solid patterned plates that help the food items to stand out. Think how confusing a flower printed plate could be to someone with dementia and reduced vision.

Focus on foods your loved one will eat now! Maybe mom hated mashed potatoes a decade ago, but if she likes them now -roll with it!

Anxiety

It is terrifying to feel lost while performing a task you know you should be able to do! Offer encouragement and create an environment that is comfortable.

Sometimes, a person is cognitively aware that he cannot self feed and may feel embarrassed. Be sensitive to a loved one’s pride and look for ways to support independence while meeting physical needs.

Helpful tip: watch to see if your loved one struggles with the activity of eating. Simple changes like offering a fork with a larger easy grip handle can make big changes in your loved one’s ability to eat.

Prepare foods that are easier to move from plate to mouth. Be creative and supportive. Make happy mealtimes the goal and let go of expectations for mealtime norms.

Physical Limitations

Changes in physical ability make it harder to access food. A person who was once a whiz in the kitchen may feel to tired or overwhelmed to prepare meals. Make sure your loved one still has access to the food he or she needs.

You would be surprised at how many seniors stopped eating regularly because it is too hard to cook, reach shelves, and go to the store.

Helpful tip: reorganize food and food related chores to meet your loved one’s needs. Sometimes, adults facing dementia and weight loss do not realize they have stopped cooking or eating regularly. It is important to create routines. And, offer ways to compensate when physical limitations in the kitchen get in the way of meal times.

Depression and Loss of routine

Dementia can make people feel restless and agitated. They often loose a sense of routine and structure. There are many changes going on and food can seem like a lost priority.

Helpful tip: maintain routines and help keep things interesting. Try planning engaging outings and make sure to include regular feedings.

I once had a client who would make herself toast and butter with a cup of coffee each morning when the coffee timer beeped. A well-meaning family member switched out the old coffee pot with and easier to use new model.

Unfortunately, when the coffee pot beeper left so did the coffee and toast routine. People with dementia create alternate pathways to routine and memory. Try to protect those rituals and create new ones with very simple regular cues.

dementia and weight loss may often coexist but you can make small adjustment to a persons daily routines to support better nutrition. If you need more support and you live in Southern California you can contact us. Otherwise, we recommend you work with a private Care Manager.

These professionals are usually nurses or social workers and they can help you develop routines, tools, and plans to make meal times more pleasant for everyone.

Hospital Bed in San Diego:
Complete Buying Guide

Considering buying a hospital bed? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

Using a regular bed when recovering from an injury or operation or struggling with a mobility condition can be challenging. Patients are faced with uncomfortable sleep, difficult transfers, and occasional injuries.

With the right hospital bed, you evade the hurdles of typical beds, thereby enjoying a more streamlined recovery journey.

This article is your complete buying guide hospital beds in san Diego.

The beautiful thing about a patient bed is that you can use it beyond the hospital setting, be it in a rehab center, private residential, or nursing home.

Home patient beds come in varying sizes, designs, and styles, so picking the right one is an overwhelming task for most buyers. It’s for this reason that this guide has gathered everything you need to know about hospital beds.

The guide outlines the advantages of a home patient bed, types of hospital beds, how to pick the right equipment, and other crucial information to keep in mind when buying your home medical equipment.

Benefits of Hospital Beds for Homecare

Patient beds are tailored to the needs of patients who need assistance repositioning in bed as they offer more comfort, ease care giving, and allow the patient to use the extended time.

Getting a comfortable sleep when struggling with a health or mobility issue is a genuine struggle. A patient bed helps to eliminate these hassles by offering various position adjustments. You can recline the bed if sleeping flat on a mattress is difficult, or you can elevate it for health reasons.

Hospital beds ease care giving.

A caregiver can raise or lower the equipment, depending on whether the user can move out of the bed with or without help.

Lowering the bed to a considerable level enables you to step out to the floor or a mobility device such as a wheelchair. By raising the height, the caregiver doesn’t have to hunch over when providing help. Besides, these beds allow for options such as over-bed tables, eliminating the constant back pains caregivers experience when managing patients.

The fact that you can accessorize a hospital bed takes homecare a notch higher. Bed rails, whether half-length or full-length, are an excellent safety feature as they prevent the patient from rolling off the bed.

Safety at Home

Blanket supports raise sheets and blankets off the lower legs to prevent entanglement during movement while keeping away the extra weight off sensitive skin. You can equip the bed with a specialized air mattress if your loved one is vulnerable to pressure sores.

With the right hospital bed, you don’t have to stay away from your home and loved ones. A hospital bed is usually mobile, enabling caregivers to move the patients around the house and other living environs.

Whereas an older individual with mobility difficulties may require the help of a caregiver to perform day-to-day tasks, living in a nursing facility may be an uncomfortable experience for them. By allowing for home care, hospital beds support the concept of aging in familiar environments while surrounded by loved ones.

Types of Hospital Beds in San Diego

Hospital beds in San Diego are classified into three broad categories depending on the operation mode as follows:

Manual Hospital Beds

These beds lack electric capabilities. They have a crank that allows you to adjust the height, head section, and foot section position.

Manual hospital beds are more affordable than their electric competitors but demand more physical labor. They are a decent investment for short-term use, patients with a fixed position, and those that don’t require regular repositioning.

Remember that some manual beds don’t offer a range of position adjustments as electric beds. You also want to ensure that there is a caregiver with the energy and will to do the manual work before buying this bed.

Semi-electric Patient Beds

The semi-electric options incorporate both electric and manual adjustments. Typically, electric interventions allow for the adjustment of the foot and head section. A hand crank helps adjust the height.

Semi-electric patient beds are ideal for patients in need of constant head and foot section adjustments and fewer height adjustments. They are costlier than manual beds but offer you the benefit of zero manual work when adjusting the two ends.

Full-electric Hospital bed.

In full electric beds, all alterations are electrical, incredibly easing the lives of the patient and their caregivers.

The bed comes with a remote for seamless head, foot, and height modifications, making it an ideal solution for patients who require frequent positioning and caregivers with less physical strength. Loaded with these capabilities, an electric bed is costlier than a manual or semi-electric alternative but offers a great deal of convenience.

Besides the above types, there are also unique hospital beds tailored to special requirements. They include:

Low Hospital Bed

A low bed resembles the regular hospital bed except that its deck is much closer to the floor to minimize the risk of injury from falls. It’s also ideal for patients that experience difficulties when transferring out and into the bed.

An upgrade to the low bed is the hi-low bed that offers a broader range of height alterations. You can lower it close to the floor when sleeping, or a caregiver can raise it to a suitable height when providing assistance.

Bariatric Hospital Bed

If you are looking for a patient bed with a larger weight capacity, a bariatric bed could be the right choice for you. The bed is designed with a broader and heavy-duty deck to offer maximum support and comfort to heavier users. It can be fully electric or low design.

Hospital Crib

Also known as a pediatric medical crib, a hospital crib is specially made for children receiving medical care at home. This could be due to premature birth issues, neurological issues (seizure and epilepsy), developmental disabilities, among other conditions that call for special features not provided by a regular crib.

Hospital cribs have raised rails to prevent falls, with the spaces between the rails being much narrower to prevent head entrapment. You can electronically or manually adjust the head section, depending on the bed manufacturer.

How to Choose the Right Hospital Bed

Undeniably, buying a hospital bed is an incredible investment, so getting informed about the vital things to consider is imperative before making your purchase. Keep in mind the following factors:

Length of Use

Before looking into the features, consider how long your loved one will use the bed. For short-term uses, it’s advisable to get a manual or semi-electric patient bed, depending on the necessary convenience and comfort.

A full-electric bed is suitable for a patient who remains on the bed for a significant portion of the day (at least 15 hours) or intends to use it for a long time.

Mobility of the User

Your choice of a hospital bed will also rely on the mobility level of the user.

First, consider whether the patient can get in and out of bed and the amount of help they require.

Next, determine whether the bed has the necessary features to support the user’s mobility. For instance, a user who can transfer themselves or sit up will require a more standard hospital bed. In contrast, an immobile patient will require a more loaded alternative.

Size and Weight of User

The size and weight of the patient determine the bed’s size and capacity.

If the user is heavier, a heavy-duty bariatric bed is an ideal choice to support the extra weight and size. In contrast, shorter or taller patients require shortened or extended bed decks.

Pediatric patients, however, need small-sized beds designed to offer optimum comfort and safety to children.

Physical Stamina of Caregiver

It’s also important to consider the physical strength of the caregiver, chiefly when a family or friend is assigned the caregiving duties. If manual operation is too much work for the carer, a full-electric bed becomes the go-to solution.

Features

Different models offer varying features that allow for customizations geared to minimize the risk of complications, improve patient comfort, and ease the work of the caregiver. Here are features to remember when buying a hospital bed in San Diego.

Positioning

Typical patient beds offer primary positioning options, such as raising the foot and head sections. However, some alternatives take this notion further by providing special positions to meet unique requirements. They include:

- - Fowler’s position: In this position, the user is laid on their back with their upper body raised to an angle between 15-90 degrees, and their knees bent or straight. It’s ideal for patients with respiratory distresses as it facilitates better chest expansion, thereby improving breathing. The position also allows users who can’t move to talk normally and eat and swallow easily.
  - Trendelenburg: This position is achieved by tilting the bed deck in a way the user’s head is lower than the feet by 15-30 degrees. The patient lies flat on the bed. Commonly used during cardiothoracic surgery, the Trendelenburg position is also helpful to patients with particular heart and respiratory issues.
  - Reverse Trendelenburg: Also known as Anti-Trendelenburg, this position is gained by tilting the bed so that the patient’s head is higher than the feet by 15 to 30 degrees. It’s especially useful for increased exposure during upper abdominal and prostate surgeries.

By relieving pressure to the head, the Anti-Trendelenburg also helps to improve respiratory functions in obese users.Avoid keeping the patient in the Trendelenburg positions for an extended period to prevent blood flow complications. If the patient has reduced mental ability or dementia, the control of these positions should be left to the caregiver.

Bed Rails

You cannot afford to overlook the importance of side rails when buying a hospital bed in San Diego. Whether full-length or half-length, side rails offer fall prevention to individuals at risk of falling off the bed, especially the sen`iors, children, and the disabled. Bed rails also act as support tools when individuals with limited physical strength are transferring into and out of bed. Users with limited mobility can hold onto the rails when turning over, lying down, or sitting up.

Storage

If you have a load of frequently used supplies, it’s wise to get a bed that suits your storage needs. Whereas the standard patient bed comprises the frame and essential components, a selection of newer models come with storage compartments for storing items such as gloves, IV stands, oxygen stands, and bedpans nearby.

Built-in Scale

A patient bed with an in-built scale or allows the attachment of the device comes in handy if regular weight measurements are required for medical reasons. They enable weight recording with minimal to zero disruptions.

Installation Services

A patient bed can be too bulky or complicated for you to install it by yourself. This is where professional installation comes into play. Before hiring an installer, seek to know if the bed seller provides installation services. Having the retailer, rather than a third party, install your bed can help reduce the overall costs significantly.

When Should You Rent a Hospital Bed?

The following are the situations where renting a bed in San Diego makes more sense than buying the equipment.
When you Need the Bed for Short-term Use

When you Need the Bed for Short-term Use

It’s more economical to rent than buy a patient bed for short-term use.
Hospital bed rental in San Diego offers an affordable solution to people in need of a bed for a relatively
shorter time, whether they are recuperating from an injury or medical operation. Upon recovery, the user can
return the bed and switch to their regular beds.

When in Need of Flexibility

When flexibility becomes critical for your recovery journey, renting a patient bed is virtually inevitable.
Your health needs may continually change as you recover, bringing in the flexibility factor.
Although different hospital beds are designed to meet varying needs, it makes no sense to buy separate beds
to meet your changing preferences. Here, renting different beds is the best alternative.

When Testing an Upgrade

If you have a knack for testing equipment before buying a hospital bed, bed rental is for you. With the availability of patient bed rental in San Diego, you can try out beds before buying a hospital bed.

Vital Safety Tips for Home Hospital Beds

Bringing a hospital bed home presents several safety challenges that you might not have considered in the past. Having selected the right equipment for you or loved one, equipping it properly and using it safely is of utmost importance. By using a patient bed safely, you keep away additional medical issues and better the environment for the surrounding people, whether relatives, friends, or hired caregivers. Thus said, take into account the following safety tips when using a hospital bed at home:

- Keep the side rails locked, except during transfers, to prevent dangerous falls.
- Except during movement around the house, always maintain the wheels in a locked position to prevent incidences associated with uncontrolled movements of the bed.
- Check if all the bed mechanisms and parts are working accordingly, as per the manufacturer’s or retailer’s guidelines..
- Equip the bed with communication means, primarily a bell and phone, so that the user can reach out to the caregiver easily and quickly, especially during emergencies.
- Always ensure that the remote control is within easy reach of the bed user.
- Ensure the mattress correctly fits in the bed to prevent unsafe gaps between the mattress and bed edges.
- Regularly check the motor and electrical components for debris and dirt. Dirt accumulation is a sure recipe for electrical component malfunction and failure.

Where to Rent a Hospital Bed in San Diego

If you are thinking about hospital bed rental in San Diego, look no further than Harmony Home Medical Supplies, your trusted medical equipment dealer in San Diego.

We offer affordable rentals for high-quality hospital beds by renowned medical equipment brands, including Invacare, Graham Field, and Joerns, among others.

Whether you are looking for a semi-electric, manual, or full-electric patient bed, Harmony Home Medical rentals are transparent and void of endless paperwork, vague contracts, and hidden fees.

Besides, we deliver our rental beds and have our specialists install them at our customers’ homes, providing them with superior convenience coupled with affordability.

Buying a Hospital Bed in San Diego

Considering buying a hospital bed in San Diego? Harmony Home Medical Supplies is your go-to home medical equipment distributor in San Diego.

Being in business for several years, we boast the experience and knowledge to excellently address the unique needs of our customers. We, therefore, supply hospital beds with excellent workmanship and features geared to offer our clients quality, long-lasting services.

Not sure which hospital bed suits your needs and budget? Bet on our professional, friendly, and experienced specialists to take you through the selection process so that you leave our store with a product optimally tailored to your needs. You can also order our beds online.

Turn to us for affordable, durable, reliable hospital beds, accompanied by a friendly environment and unsurpassed customer services.

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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be serious in the elderly and there is some evidence that it might even affect the mood of your loved one.

With proper care, you can prevent UTIs from getting out of hand and wreaking havoc.

In this post, we will talk about how to keep UTIs are bay.

Urinary tract infections in the elderly (how to prevent them)

Wipe from front to back

Remnants of fecal matter tend to contain millions of bacteria that can contribute to urinary tract infections.

When you are wiping (or you are a caregiver who is helping your loved one get clean), wipe from the front of the genitals and back towards the anus.

Don’t bring the toilet paper back towards your genitals.

This simple action keeps the bacteria away from where they could cause an infection.

Avoid holding your urine

If you need to go to the bathroom, please do! Urine that is held in your bladder creates a perfect atmosphere for bacterial growth.

The inconvenience of stopping whatever you are doing to go and pee is worth preventing that UTI that will nag you for months.

Drink plenty of water

Other fluids like cranberry juice, orange juice, hibiscus tea, white/black tea are helpful as well.

Drinking water and increasing your fluid intake in general, allows your body to make more urine.

The urine your body produces will wash out the bacteria that would otherwise hang around and cause an infection.

Drink more cranberry juice (or consume more cranberries)

There is some evidence that drinking cranberry juice or consuming cranberries could help with preventing the recurrence of UTIs.

A study looked at 150 women who had urinary tract infections and the effects of cranberry juice on preventing urinary tract infections. The women were divided into three groups. One group drank cranberry-lingonberry concentrate juice for 6 months. Compared to the control groups, the researchers found there was a 20% risk reduction in the recurrence of UTIs when the women drank the cranberry-lingonberry concentrate.

Another study found that cranberry juice could disrupt UTI-associated bacterial biofilms.

Take these simple steps to keep UTIs at bay.

5 activities you can continue to do even if you’re social distancing

Another wave of COVID-19 rages on.

And perhaps you have not had the chance to see your loved ones in months.

Or if you have, it has been at a distance and with masks on and/or limited contact.

Now that the new vaccines for COVID-19 are slowly being rolled out, there might be relief on the horizon for us.

But until then, we still have to practice social distancing to slow how fast the virus spreads as well as to protect vulnerable, high-risk populations.

In this post, we’ll talk about activities you can still be involved in that will help alleviate the isolation and boredom you may be feeling from having to observe social distancing rules.

5 activities to beat boredom as social distancing continues

Take a walk in nature

There is nothing like getting fresh air by walking through your local park, nature reserve, or a nature trail.

If you live in Southern California, then there is no end of places for you to go and enjoy such.

If you live in the more temperate regions of the country and already have snow, don’t let this stop you! Even a walk through your neighborhood can do so much good.

Host a virtual dinner party

Family cannot come over for a real, in-person dinner party?

You can use video call services to host your very own tech-savvy dinner party with friends and family.

Make sure to set the table and prepare your meal just as you would if people were coming over.

Not only will it provide you with a sense of accomplishment; you will also prepare your body and mind for the social event just like you would if it were in-person.

Host a virtual game night

Just like the idea above, you can host a virtual game night with friends and family over video conferencing software like Zoom.

You can even have all the in-game excitement and arguments! And you will create memories with the people you love.

Go to a drive-in movie

Tired of staying at home?

There are cities around the US that are now throwing it back to the days of drive-in movies.

You don’t have to leave your car.

You can eat all the popcorn you want, and not buy the overpriced one at the cinema!

This is an activity you can share with your loved ones – all of you can drive separately to the movie and share in the outdoor experience.

And in the end, you will derive satisfaction from enjoyed the experience with people you love.

Start a project you’ve been putting off

Whether it is a home improvement project (elders should approach these with care), a knitting project, a painting, or simply a crafting project you’ve been putting off, now is the perfect time to get started on it.

So get to it!

I know having to be apart from the people you love is hard.

This virus came and changed our lives for sure.

With the new vaccines, it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Until we are in the clear, however, social distancing and wearing masks will be necessary.

If you’re having a hard time coping, these activities will help take away the boredom of life with social distancing.

Photo credits SeventyFour on istock.com

Have outside caregivers coming into your home during the COVID-19 pandemic? Here are 5 safety guidelines you should continue to consider.

The advantages of companions for the elderly.

As loved ones age, you may notice that they increasingly need someone with stay with them.

Because of reduced mobility and health issues, your elderly loved one may have difficulty moving around and performing normal activities like going to the grocery store.

As more and more people age in place – this means more people are opting to live in their homes rather than a nursing home or assisted living community – the need for a sitter or companion may increase.

And this is especially true when you have to go to work and cannot afford to stay home with your loved one to meet their needs.

Having a sitter or companion in this instance is a great idea.

If you’ve noticed that your loved one has reached a point where they could benefit from a sitter/companion, here is what you can expect.

Companions for the elderly: how companions help

Hiring a companion means you don’t have to worry while you’re at work (or if you live apart from them) that your loved one is being helped.

Here are all the ways a companion can help your loved one.

Transportation Assistance

Does your loved one need to get to a doctor’s appointment? A companion can help them get to the appointment. Do they need to get groceries? A companion can help with that too.

At Green Tree Home Care for instance, our companions will drive your loved one to the places they need to go.

To ensure the safety of your loved one, make sure the company you are hiring companions from is licensed and therefore has insurance that covers driving services.

Light housekeeping

If your loved one needs help with their laundry, companions can help with that. If they need help with keeping their house clean, companions can help as well.

Communication assistance

As the years progress the technology to communicate with friends and family also progresses. It can be frustrating for an older person who is not conversant with these technologies to communicate with family when they need to.

A companion can assist your loved one with communication technologies so that they can stay in touch.

Companionship

This is perhaps the aspect that companions and clients alike love the most – the companionship that develops.

As social beings, we crave relationships and the benefits that come with those relationships.

Companions can accompany your loved one to movies, social events, while they are traveling, to exercise and so much more. These meaningful relationships can help the elderly live longer because it gives them a sense of purpose.

Aging in place is possible. And if you find that your loved one needs more help, they want to remain at home and there are few age-related health issues, you should consider a companion for them.

What does a second wave of COVID-19 restrictions mean for you as a caregiver?

News reports over the last week have focused on a second wave of COVID-19 cases.

States like Florida, Texas and Arizona have stopped reopening their states so that they can slow the virus spread.

Los Angeles county which had opened up beaches announced a few days ago, that they would close down the beaches to keep more people from getting infected.

At this point, if you’re exhausted at the thought of this second wave, you’re not the only one.

So what can you do as a caregiver during this time?

In today’s post, I will provide some pointers on how to cope as a caregiver during this second wave of COVID-19 restrictions.

Surviving a second wave of COVID-19 restrictions

Continue to stay safe

A second wave means it is important for us to continue to shelter in place and practice safety measures.

This means that if you care for an elderly loved one who has underlying health risks, it is important to be diligent about:

Wearing a mask (both you and your loved one) when you go into public spaces where there will be a lot of people
Avoiding those places where large groups of people gather
Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and under running water. Do this every time you come into your house from outside.
Using hand sanitizer especially when you are out in public

Other actions include making sure you and your loved one are consuming enough vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin C for instance is well-known to boost our immune systems.

So while we do our best to stay at home and practice safety measures, make sure you and your loved ones’ immune systems are supported by healthy foods.

Take care of your emotional health

For many caregivers – especially those who are taking care of children as well as elderly loved ones – this has been a challenging time.

Children are home from school and as a caregiver, you have to attend to them.

And with this second wave, it is likely schools will not reopen until 2021.

For a lot of caregivers, this means triple the amount of work as they juggle caring for children, caring for their elderly loved one and staying on top of their work-life.

If this is you, remember to:

Take care of you as well. As cliche as it sounds, if you’re not taking care of yourself, you won’t be fit to take care of your loved ones. Check out this post to learn self-care tips for caregivers.
Speak with a mental health professional. These are unprecedented times. Nobody was prepared for this. So it’s okay to talk to someone about how you’re feeling. The great thing here is you get a listening ear and tools to help you cope.
Hire help if you need it. Green Tree Home Care is available all through this season to support you with our trained staff who abide by COVID-19-related public health rules. Call us today at 800-518-9277.

Bust through the boredom with fun at-home activities

Summer vacation travel plans cancelled? No worries.

There is still a lot you can do to bust through boredom from home. Here are some ideas for you and your household.

Learn a new skill for work – with so many online learning platforms out there, this is a perfect time to polish up or learn a new skill.
Practice a new hobby. Remember when you said you wanted to learn how to play the violin? Here’s your chance.
Discover new books.
Have virtual parties with distant family.

While these second wave of COVID-19-related restrictions due to rising cases, is NOT fun, we can beat it together.

10 activity ideas for your loved one who is bedridden.

Here’s a reality – nobody likes to be in bed for a prolonged amount of time with nothing to do.

Thus, your loved one who is bedridden is itching for activities to keep their mind off the fact that they’re bedridden.

But one common challenge caregivers face is finding activities for loved ones to engage in while they are bedridden.

Whether your loved one is bedridden at home or is in the hospital, you’ll learn engaging activity ideas for them from the list below.

Let’s delve right into it.

10 activity ideas for your loved one who is bedridden

Reading books

Reading books has long been the way to while away time. If you know what types of books your loved one enjoys, either buy or borrow them from the library for your loved one.

Listening to audio books

Audio books are an excellent way to consume books especially if you’re not up for looking at pages of texts for long periods of time. It is common for elders to struggle with their eyesight. Audio books can therefore be a great alternative for them.

Services like Audible, Scribd and Audiobooks.com are excellent sources for audio books.

Watching TV shows

An oldie, but a goodie! And you don’t have to limit your loved one’s watching preferences to network television.

There are even YouTube channels that have a lot of great content that could appeal to your loved one.

Board games

If they are up to it, a good board game is another great way to engage your bedridden loved one.

Crafts

Crafts are great for any age and they are great at eliminating boredom. So try some crafts with your loved one. You never know what they will fall in love with.

Podcasts

Podcasts cover a wide variety of topics these days – from entertainment to business to commentary on popular TV shows. One can stay engaged for hours listening to podcasts.

Musical instruments

If your loved one can still use their upper body strength, playing musical instruments with them or even learning to play a new one can keep them engaged and entertained.

This is also an activity the whole family can participate in.

Conversations with loved ones on Skype or Zoom

Are loved ones scattered all over the country or globe? Show your loved one how to use communication tools like Skype or Zoom so they can talk with family that live elsewhere.

Check this post out for 4 user-friendly video calling apps for the elderly.

Puzzles

Everyone loves a good puzzle! And for your loved one who is bedridden, this is an excellent way to help them engage.

Ipads/Tablets

Several of the activities listed here could be done with an electronic tablet and then there is so much more that is not mentioned here.

Either way, an electronic tablet presents a great opportunity to your loved one engaged while bedridden.

Is your elderly loved one currently bedridden?

Here are five tips on how to take care of an elderly loved one who is bedridden at home.

5 tips for taking care of your loved one who is bedridden

Continue to provide good nutrition

Your loved one still needs to be getting a diet that provides them with all the nutrients they need.

A diet that is heavy in proteins, fruits and vegetables is helpful for people who are bedridden.

A bedridden person is prone to losing muscle tone because they are not using their muscles as much in daily movement.

This can result in a loss of muscle tone which further weakens a person.

A diet that is rich in protein, helps to continue to “feed” the muscles so they can regain some of that lost muscle tone.

Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that boost the immune system and help wounds heal quickly.

People who are bedridden, are more likely to develop a condition called bed sores. Having the right balance of vitamins and minerals can help lessen the occurrence of these.

Help them perform range of motion exercises

Like I mentioned in the point above, if your loved one is bedridden, they are not moving their muscles around much.

For people who are not bedridden, simple things like taking a walk for 30 minutes a day is enough to keep muscles strong and healthy.

When you don’t use a particular muscle group regularly however, those muscles become weak.

Thus, it is important to help your loved one perform range-of-motion exercises to help keep their muscles healthy.

Bed sores are another common problem that arise from being bedridden.

This happens because there isn’t enough blood supply to a part of your loved one’s body. Wounds then develop – and these wounds can take a long time to heal.

Range of motion exercises gets blood moving to the parts of the body that would otherwise be cut off from blood supply.

Provide bed baths

Cleanliness is important when you’re taking care of a bedridden loved one.

This post teaches you how to provide your loved one with a bed bath.

Bed baths prevent bacteria, fungi and viruses from gathering in areas of your loved one’s body and causing havoc.

Change their bedding often

Changing bedding and diapering often is vital when you’re taking care of a loved one who is bedridden.

Because they are in bed all day long, sweat, hair shedding and skin shedding all contribute to sheets becoming dirty quickly.

Thus, it is important to have a plan to change your loved one’s sheets once or twice a week. Or as often as is needed.

You could also lay down absorbent bed pads like these ones, on the area of the bed where your loved one lies the most.

This way, you don’t have to change all the sheets if you’re in a pinch for time. You would just need to change the bed pad.

Nonetheless, changing sheets once or twice per week will keep your loved one comfortable, clean and dry.

If your loved one uses a diaper, changing them frequently will also keep them comfortable and prevent problems like skin break down due to urine or feces staying on them for too long.

Provide entertainment to keep them engaged

Laying in bed all day is boring. It can lead to mental health problems like depression.

Keep your loved one engaged and entertained.

Board games, watching a TV show together, providing them with books and having conversations are all ways to keep your loved one engaged.

While they are aging in place and are bedridden, your loved one can still enjoy a good quality of life.

These 5 tips on how to care for your elderly loved one who is bedridden, will help you achieve that.

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COVID-19 has shaken the world to the core this year.

In order for families to protect one another, adult children have reported staying away from their elderly loved ones.

There is no doubt that you might want to continue to stay in touch with your loved ones.

But you might not just want a phone call; you might want to see their faces as well.

There are user-friendly pieces of software that you can access for free and enjoy your family during these days of lock-downs and quarantines.

In this post, I will share four free and yet user-friendly video calling apps for the elderly.

4 FREE and user-friendly video calling apps for the elderly

Video calling features built into your smart phone

Both Android and Apple smart phones have native video calling features that allow you to call your loved ones on video.

Apple phones have Face Time.

If your loved one has an Apple iPhone or an iPad, you can call them using Face Time.

If you use an Android smart phone and your loved one has an Android phone that has video capabilities, you can call them using the video call feature as well.

These features come with your phone and are free to use.

WhatsApp is a communication app that allows you to text, call and leave voice notes.

If your cell phone has a data plan or you have the phone connected to a wi-fi network, you can communicate with your family easily using WhatsApp.

Unlike the phone features I spoke of above, you can make video calls to your loved ones regardless of which kind of phone they use.

Another useful WhatsApp feature is the fact that you can have groups of up to 256 people!

Thus, you and your loved ones can have a group and communicate through there.

You can use WhatsApp on a Mac or Windows computer as well.

Skype

Skype is one of the oldest Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) programs that is still free.

You can call your loved ones and see them on video from your computer, cell phone or a tablet.

All you need is an internet connection.

Facebook Messenger Video Calling

The Facebook Messenger app is owned by the world’s most popular social media site and guess what?

It has video calling as well.

If you already have a Facebook account, you already have everything you need to call your loved one on video.

Staying in touch with your loved ones during this difficult time is possible.

And while nothing is ever as good as the real thing, it still possible to still have good relationships over video calls.

In this post, I shared 4 free and user-friendly video calling apps for the elderly to help you keep in touch with your loved ones.

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