When Exercise Isn’t Enough – The One Thing That Will Increase Elderly Health By 50%

Posted on March 1, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

<a href=”http://www.valleyhelpathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sitting-Senior.jpg”><img class=”alignleft wp-image-480″ alt=”Helping Seniors To Walk In East Idaho” src=”http://www.valleyhelpathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sitting-Senior.jpg” width=”379″ height=”216″ /></a>So it turns out that exercise is just not enough. Not that the solution is terribly difficult, but in this case, knowing is way more than half of the battle.

<a href=”http://www.news-medical.net/news/20140220/Sedentary-behavior-may-be-a-risk-factor-for-disability-once-we-reach-our-60s.aspx” target=”_blank”>A recent study</a> published in Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that the more time a senior spent sitting, even if they spent time exercising, the more likely the senior’s health would lead to disability.

The likelihood is pretty dramatic – to the tune of 50% more per extra hour sitting.

Take this example. If two 70 year old men had similar health and exercise profiles, but one sat for 12 hours a day while the other sat for 13, the second man is 50% more likely to be disabled.

Does that mean sitting is dangerous? What it means is that it is important to get up and move around. If you want to watch TV, work on the computer, or play games, try to doing so while spending more time standing. It might seem silly, but it is the difference between health and disability.

Looking for someone to help get you moving in one of Idaho Falls parks? Wanting to find someone to go walking with your mother around the block in Rexburg? Hoping you could just get someone to walk with your father in his house in Driggs? Worried your loved one might be sitting too much at their cabin in Island Park? Wanting to give your wife a little extra walking time in the Ashton Living Center? 1 Assist Care of the Valley: Assisted Living in the Home’s care team members are more than happy to walk with our elderly clients. Focusing on the emotional, social, and physical well-being of our clients, 1 Assist Care of the Valley’s team members follow care plans generated to help with that well-being while receiving assisted living care in their home. That could mean a few hours a day or a few hours a week.

Give us a call at 208-557-4215 or fill out the information below to learn more or to schedule a free home visit. We will then work with you to create a care plan to get moving and to help with your other objectives for your well being, or the well being of your loved one.

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How To Talk To A Parent About Assisted Living

Posted on February 25, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

Life is full of stages. From birth to college to marriage to children to empty nesting.

Often these are the stages we look forward to.

There comes a time in most of our lives when we are going to enter another stage of life – that of needing long term care. There is nothing to be ashamed of – 70% of people will need long term care in their life. That would be most of us. But for some, the discussion can be a difficult one. Whether it is difficult as a child of an elderly parent to bring up the topic, or it is difficult as a parent to hear your children or others ask the question.

However, if you simply postpone having the discussion until an emergency occurs, then your choices are often far less as you have less time to make them. The best time to have these discussions is today, no matter the health of your loved one or the age.

Here are a list of items to consider when planning the discussion.

The facts
Your parent is not alone in receiving assisted living care in their home. And receiving care can be a great boost to their health. Consider the following:

Seniors who receive home visits are twice as healthy after two years as those who do not
According to research by a Brown University professor, elders who receive care services such as meals are less likely to later be admitted to a nursing home
Over 1.5 million seniors receive assisted living care in the home
70% of people will need long term care in their life
Over 90% of seniors want to live in their home for the rest of their lives. And they can.
Elderly care has changed dramatically over the past two decades – There are many more technologies than “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” and there are many more choices than simply being put into a nursing home.
As long as they are able, they will have a significant say in the care that they receive in their home

Multiple conversations are often better than one
This does not have to be “The Talk.” If you can make it a series of conversations, it can be less traumatic. And some of those conversations can be brief. Questions like “Dad, how is it living at home since Mom died?” allow him to explain how he feels about his surroundings and living alone. Other questions include:

I hear Mrs. Smith is getting help with her housework. How does she like that?
When you told me you fell last moth, I was really scared for a week. Is there anything we can do to help when I live so far away?

The more you talk with your loved one, the more you will understand their desires and will be able to craft the best “assisted living in the home” plan for them.

Make no assumptions
Your loved one just might agree with you but was unsure how to ask for help. Or they might not see a problem in the way that seems so obvious to others – this is not necessarily denial.

Focus on their quality of life and independence
You all want her independence. It is a great place to remember you have common ground.

Go somewhere that they are comfortable – with as many family members as possible
When coming to a point when final decisions are being made and final discussions are being had, be somewhere that your loved one feels at home. In their home is best. If there are family members cannot be there in person, schedule a conference call. Skype and Google Hangouts allow for video conferences for free.

Go in with a listening ear rather than a knowledgeable mouth
Often Seniors have insight that we may not have. And most of us struggle when we feel that someone thinks they know more about our situation than we do. Listening changes hearts. When they express their feelings or thoughts, do not be afraid to follow up with, “I want to make sure I understand” and then restate what they said. Then affirm it.

Put yourself in their shoes
Talk to them in the same loving, respectful manner that you would want your children to talk to you. Understand that this might be hard for them.

Own your feelings rather than your loved one’s “problems”
Use phrases like, “I get so worried” or “I am so concerned when I see….” Those types of phrases tend to be much more effective than “You need to” or “We have decided that it best that….”

Give them information and options
The more they feel that they are part of finding the solution, the more likely they are to welcome it.

Do not express to your loved one that what you are doing compares to what they did for you when you were a child
Your loved one does not want to be viewed in that manner. And it does not indicate independence, your common ground. As an adult who has lived a full life, they would hope to be respected and honored.

Keep calm – even if they do not
If you fail to remain calm, the conversation could have very negative effects on relationships – and potentially the health of the one you are trying to help – for a long time.

A Defensive Loved One
Sometimes no matter how hard we try, the conversation goes in the wrong direction. It is important at that point to bring the conversation back to your feelings, both your own feelings and the feelings you have for your loved one.

A fantastic question to ask is, “Mom, if you knew I needed help, but refused to take it, how would that make you feel?” Then follow up with “How would you feel if I let you send someone to take care of me?” Using this kind of a question shifts the conversation from a battle of the wills to one focused more on the care and tender feelings that you have for one another. Generally, she will say something along the lines of

She just might say “I would be supportive.” Affirm that by saying “Oh Mom, you are wonderful. You have been so supportive in our life.” Then clarify further with two questions:

“That is what you would do, is to be supportive, but how would you feel deep inside?”
“As you think about our lives, what has brought you the greatest joy? When you have supported us in decisions that have made our lives easier or those that made life more difficult?”

A Defensive Loved One – Part 2
If the conversation still continues down a different direction than you would like, invite them to join other seniors from Idaho Falls to Driggs at a monthly meeting hosted by 1 Assist Care of the Valley where seniors have the chance to discuss ways they have been able to age with grace and dignity.

When you are ready to take the next step of finding the right person to come into your loved one’s life, give us a call at 208-557-4215 and we will work with you to create an atmosphere where your loved one will be able to enjoy the independence you all desire with the assisted living care services in the home that you all love.

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Two Simple Secrets Seniors Can Do To Be Twice As Healthy

Posted on February 24, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

Want to be twice as healthy as others your age?

Sweden has your answer*.

A study out from the Scandinavian country found that people aged 80 and older that did one of two things were twice as healthy as those their age in two years.

That is a lot of twos.

But what are those two things? They were:

Receive home visits from care workers
Attend senior group meetings

The other positive outcome of those who participated in the group meetings was that after a year they were less likely to rate their health as having deteriorated.

The results “amazed” Gerontologist Gwen Yeo, a former director of the Stanford School of Medicine Geriatric Education Center.

As seniors attended group meetings, they learned from their peers, which boosted their self esteem – as did seeing how others were able to age gracefully.

While Yeo said she did not see American health system providing these types of meetings, starting in April, 2014, 1 Assist Care of the Valley Senior Care: Assisted Living At Home In East Idaho will partner with Phoenix Media Enterprises of Rexburg and others to provide monthly group sessions for seniors and their families to gather together. The meetings will be two fold. First, to learn from other seniors and their support network on how to age gracefully. The second will be to learn from experts on how to prepare for and to know the options available to them when aging.

Essentially, these will be the types of meetings that the Swedish study has shown to help the health of the elderly.

Seniors that are less comfortable or unable to attend group meetings also have the option of using 1 Assist Care of the Valley to receive home visits and receive the same kind of care in their home as they would in an assisted living facility. 1 Assist Care of the Valley Senior Care of Rexburg sends caregivers into the homes of seniors living in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Ashton, Driggs and between.

Yeo pointed out that home visits are becoming more commonplace in the U.S. as hospitals are working more closely with families to reduce trips to the emergency room and to reduce readmission rates, which hospitals can be penalized for.

Swedes live on average two years longer than those living in the United States. When it comes to life expectancy, the U.S. ranks 35th in the world while Sweden ranks tenth. Sweden’s elderly also have access to meals on wheels, help cleaning and shopping, personal-care assistance, transportation and home healthcare.

To find out more about assisted living care you can receive at home or about the monthly meetings starting in April, fill out your information below. Or you can call us at 557-4215.

* This information was originally reported by the Chicago Tribune.

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More Dangerous than Obesity For Seniors

Posted on February 20, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

43% of seniors suffer from the ailment that is twice as deadly as obesity.
Overcoming it is not as hard as you think.

A recent study suggests that loneliness is twice as dangerous to the elderly as obesity is. In this article 1 Assist Care of the Valley discusses how to help either yourself or your loved one overcome it.

A recent study has been completed – and its findings are worrisome, especially when you consider that 43% of seniors suffer from what the study warns us of.

According to a University of Chicago Professor, John Cacioppo, feelings of loneliness can cause premature death in seniors by 14%. That is twice the risk of obesity.

He went on to explain that the effects are quite dramatic in that they:

Disrupt sleep
Elevate blood pressure
Increase levels of the hormone cortisol – which can lower immunity levels, slows the body’s ability to heal from wounds, and impairs cognitive performance
Increase depression
Lower overall subjective well-being

So what does that mean for your parent – or even yourself?

Traditional Options

Does that mean that retirement cannot be enjoyed the way that was envisioned? Absolutely not. Retirement can bring an added sense of drive to do those things that were difficult to do earlier, be that traveling or gardening or family history work, and so on.

Does that mean that the best choice is to put them into an assisted living home in Idaho Falls or in Rigby where they are certain to be surrounded by people?

For some, that is a great choice. When you consider the average employee to resident ratio at such homes is 10 to 1, and most residents spend much of their time alone in their own rooms, that may not be the best option either.

So what to do? – The solution is simple.

Professor Cacioppo suggests staying in the social circle that they have spent the past decades developing.

What better place than in the home where:

Family can visit in a warm place
They are surrounded by the neighbors that they became friends with
They can go to church and serve in new ways and in ways that they know
They can look forward to coming back to when they travel
They can continue to beautify inside and out

But living alone can be dangerous! I mean, if your loved one lives in Driggs or St. Anthony, that is so isolated.

Not so much anymore. With technologies like smart homes, electronic response systems, and Skype, family and professionals can know they are safe.

But I live far away or simply cannot spend the time with my loved one the way that they need! They cannot even remember what they had for breakfast, so I am not sure if they are even eating.

1 Assist Care of the Valley Senior Care in Rexburg helps to overcome these concerns. By sending caregivers to the home, there is the one on one interaction that helps to overcome loneliness – and they help with those tasks that make a house a home. Whether that is preparing a meal and eating with them, or reminding them to take the correct medication, or exercising with them, or gardening with them, or taking them places. You can know that your loved one is safe and taken care of.

We will even keep you informed with what we have done every day and how it went.

And if 43% of seniors are suffering from loneliness, there is a pretty good chance your loved one just might need it.

To schedule a free home visit with us or to discuss some options for a senior you care about, give us a call at 208-557-4215, or fill out your information below and we will be in touch with you.

If your loved one is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran, be sure to ask about our program that can provide financial assistance for these types of services.

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ABC: 3 Warning Signs That Your Elderly Loved One Might Need Help

Posted on February 18, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

Happy President’s Day!

We have now enjoyed Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. Typically, we are looking forward to the warmth of Spring and a break that goes along with it.

It might also be a good time to check in with your mother or father to make sure they are doing okay.

Doing so should be a positive experience. In 2014, you have a number of options not available earlier to make sure your loved one is taken care of and safe, even without you having to be there 24 hours a day or placing them into an assisted living home in Idaho Falls.

When visiting with Mom and Dad, here are some simple ABC’s to consider their situation.

A is for Aroma
Is there an unpleasant smell that seems to be new? It might be that they have lost a little of their sense of smell and may have something that needs to be thrown away. Or it could be something else. It could be that they do not have the energy, memory, or ability to either clean the house or to get cleaned up every day – or every few days.

Did your Mom or Dad insist on cleanliness growing up? That desire to have a clean house or to be clean and beautiful does not go away as they age. But their ability to or memory to may.

Bad question to ask: What is that smell? May embarrass your loved one.
Good question to ask: Mom, can I help you clean up? This will allow you to assess the situation and find out what the odor is.

B is for Bedtime Clothes
Is your Mom and Dad in their evening attire throughout the day? This may be a sign of depression or loneliness. According to a study released this year, loneliness is more deadly to seniors than obesity is. Or it may be a sign that they do not have the energy to get changed.

Either way, a change needs to be made – and not just a change of clothes.

Bad question to ask: Why are you still in your pajamas? Your loved one may get defensive.
Good question to ask: I love your pajamas! What is your secret to finding such good sleeping attire? This will open up your loved one and will open a conversation about buying clothes with large necks and other clothes that are easy to get in and out of, but still make them feel stylish and beautiful.

C is for Catching Up With Life
This one will require more conversation. Are they calling you by name? Do they remember what happened five minutes ago? Are they slurring their speech? Are they keeping up with the things they used to love, be that news or grandchildren or religious activities.

Short term memory loss, slurred speech, disengagement with life are all things that should raise red flags and it is time to seek professional help.

D is for Dining
Bonus one. Be sure to ask your loved one about what they ate for breakfast. If they cannot remember, that is a sure sign that there is a problem. This is also true is their clothes seem to start sagging. A loss of weight may mean that they are forgetting to eat, which will lead to other more serious problems.

If your conversation with your mom or dad shows signs of concern, be sure to make two more phone calls. The first to your parent’s physician. The second to 1 Assist Care of the Valley to discuss how we can help your loved one enjoy life at home while you know that they are safe and taken care of as you are able to deal with the other demands of life.

See any of these? Call us today for a free home visit from our team. You can call us at 557-4215 or fill out the contact form below and we will reach out to you.

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Alzheimer’s Disease in East Idaho

Posted on February 6, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

Those suffering from Alzheimer’s are more than those diagnosed with the disease. Scroll down to watch a powerful documentary about the disease.

Here are the numbers:

An estimated $100 billion in lost revenue to the economy
An explosive 1000% growth rate of those diagnosed in 15 years.
25,000 Idahoans diagnosed.

This week, the Post Register ran a story about Alzheimer’s Disease. In it, they reported that there are 25,000 Idahoans diagnosed with the disease. That does not include those who have not yet been diagnosed. The Register then went on the guesstimate that there are 5,000 people in the area suffering from Alzheimer’s.

If you include the number of those suffering because of Alzheimer’s, that number is actually far greater. You have to include the mothers, the children, the husbands, wives, fathers, friends, siblings, and so on who must cope with a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

On Tuesday, the Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership hosted a Caregiver’s Support Group. It was powerful. I would highly recommend it for those whose loved ones are receiving long term care. During it, they showed a documentary on Alzheimer’s created by PBS called “The Forgetting.”

Spend an hour watching it.

Your eyes will be opened to those whose minds are closing.

You will never be the same.

And if you have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s, please know that you are not alone – and while a cure is not yet found, there is support, help, hope and options.

Do you have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s? Have you been diagnosed? Were you impacted by the video? Leave a comment below.

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Great News for Family History / Genealogy Fans in East Idaho

Posted on February 2, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

This week FamilySearch announced that 15 classes from their RootsTech Conference will be shown on the Internet for free!

This is exciting news for two reasons.

First, for many of us, making the trip to Salt Lake for the conference from Rexburg or Idaho Falls or Ashton or Driggs is not very easy.

The second reason is that the full conference costs $239, but these online sessions will be absolutely free! Here is the schedule of the classes that will be broadcast.

Which will you be watching and why? Leave a comment below.

Thursday, February 6

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Top 10 Things I Learned About My Family from My Couch by Tammy Hepps

1 p.m. to 2 p.m., FamilySearch Family Tree: What’s New and What’s Next by Ron Tanner

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Intro to DNA for Genealogists by James Rader

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Genealogy in the Cloud by Randy Hoffman

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sharing Your Family with Multimedia by Michael LeClerc

Friday, February 7

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Storytelling Super Powers: How to Come Off as Your Family’s Genealogy Hero by David Adelman

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Tweets, Links, Pins, and Posts: Break Down Genealogical Brick Walls with Social Media by Lisa Alzo

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Getting the Most Out of Ancestry.com by Crista Cowen

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Finding Family and Ancestors Outside the USA with New Technologies by Daniel Horowitz

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Do It Yourself Photo Restoration by Ancestry Insider

Saturday, February 8

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Become an iPad Power User by Lisa Louise Cooke

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Information Overload: Managing Online Searches and Their Results by D. Josh Taylor

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., A Beginner’s Guide to Going Paperless by Randy Whited

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., How to Interview Yourself for a Personal History by Tom Taylor

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Five Ways to Do Genealogy in Your Sleep by Deborah Gamble

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Your Mother’s Greatest Fear About Aging – And What She Loves

Posted on February 1, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

1 Assist Care of the Valley sponsors free monthly educational sessions in East Idaho to prepare families and individuals for aging in graceful and happy ways.

You know your parents. You know them well. Age changes people. And that is not a bad thing. With age comes wisdom, experience, and a beauty only the elderly can claim. But things happen to the body and the mind as we age. Here are four statistics you may not know about the elderly.

<img class=” ” alt=”Elderly woman climbing a wall with the text ” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LiX01VmZvD8/UYf-6RyNH7I/AAAAAAAAHLU/dIW-WRUmrbM/s1600/Sorry-Grandma-No-Bingo-Today-Funny-Old-Lady-In-RussSe Financial</a>, is that they are going to be a burden on you. Yeah, they are more concerned with putting you out than they are worried about death. Talking about what is in store for the future does not have to be gloomy or depressing. The time will come when age will impact your family’s life. Wouldn’t you rather face that time prepared with a plan that you have all discussed and understand what everyone is to do – and what the desires of both your parent and yourself are?

3. Your loved ones may not know what is coming
According to that same report by GenWorth, 49% of those who receiving long term care had not even considered the possibility that they might even need long term care. That represents almost half of those receiving care.

4. You may not know what is coming
This is probably the most surprising, as it represents well over half of those who were providing support to their loved one. Of those providing support, 57% had to dip into their own retirement funds or personal savings to take care of their parents. What does that mean? It means that not only did their loved ones not plan for or realize what was coming, but neither did the family member providing the support.

Conclusion – Be Prepared Now
Does that mean retirement does not have to look like what you hope it looks like? Absolutely not. Go and travel the way that you want. Let your loved one do the same. Read the books that you all want to read. But in order to make that happen, you need to sit down and plan. Understand the reality of what may come and prepare for it. There are options out there to help you prepare for the unexpected – and expected. The time to start is today. As in now. Schedule some time as a family. You will all pat yourselves on the back later for making the right choice now.

<a href=”www.valleyhelpathome.com”><img alt=”Picture of a frustrated woman – the greatest concern for the elderly is being a burden on their children.” src=”http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/05/11/1226639/918334-frustrated-woman.jpg” width=”312″ height=”176″ /></a> Your mother’s greatest concern about aging? That this is how your are going to feel about making sure she is taken care of as she ages.

To find out more about this and other topics to prepare your family for aging, fill out the form below and we will update you on the free monthly informational sessions. <a title=”Our Services” href=”http://www.valleyhelpathome.com/our-services-east-idaho-teton-jackson-hole-in-home-care/” target=”_blank”>1 Assist Care of the Valley</a> also provides assisted living services to seniors who desire to stay in the comfort of their own home throughout East Idaho. To find out more, fill out the form below and we will reach out to you.

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Keeping Her Home – A Powerful Alternative to Assisted Living for Mom

Posted on January 24, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

Somewhere between 90% and 95% of seniors want to stay in their own home. Read on to find out how to keep your loved one in their own home with all of the comforts of assisted living.

There comes a time in most of our lives when we have to face a sobering question:

What do we do with Mom?

Assisted Living at Home For Parents in East Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Driggs

Assisted Living for Mom no longer has to be in a facility. Now your Mother can have all the comforts of assisted living in the comfort of her own home.

It is not a question that indicates loss of love. It can mean we no longer live close to her and she needs help with daily living. It may mean she has some sort of dementia. It may mean we live close to her, but in the midst of living our lives, it is difficult to find the time to spend with her that she needs.

Do these mean it is time to put her into a home?

That may be a great choice.

But is that the choice she would have wanted?

The fact is, probably not. Somewhere between 90% and 95% of seniors want to stay in their own home. And is it any wonder? She has spent the past several decades making her house a home. Her home is where she raised her children, spoiled her grandchildren, entertained her friends, babysat the neighbors, found ways to beautify its walls, spent countless hours cleaning it, filled its air with smells of Thanksgiving, placed presents under the Christmas tree, hid eggs at Easter time, found ways to pinch pennies to pay it off.

Not very many of us say, “When I grow up I want to have my own house so that when I am old enough my children will put me in a community home.”

Assisted Living Facilities are not a bad choice, do not get me wrong. It just is probably not where Mom wants to be.

So what is the alternative?

How about Assisted Living in her own home? A place where she can be taken care of, enjoy companionship, have her meals taken care of, where she can have help with personal hygiene, a place where she can be watched over to make sure she is safe. But also a place where her family can visit her and be filled with memories. A place where she can feel a sense of community, and the community feels she is part of it because of the time she spent in it. A place where she can go on excursions to her

Home - The Best Assisted Living Place for Mom

She worked hard to make the house a home. Let her stay in it – while keeping her safe and taken care of. Contact us today.

favorite local spots and events.

A place where she can be surrounded by familiarity in a time that is often so unfamiliar to most of us.

That is what 1 Assist Care of the Valley in Rexburg offers. The ability to age gracefully in the comfort of home. Where a member of our care team is able to take care of your mother in a place that she worked for decades to create. The ability to allow you and your siblings to honor your mother’s desire to stay home, coupled with your desire to make sure she is taken care of and safe, knowing that she is not alone or isolated.

The choice no longer has to be – Which assisted living facility do we put her in? Now the choice can be to keep her in her home with all of the amenities and help of an assisted living facility.

Want to find out more on how to keep Mom home? 1 Assist Care of the Valley will work with you to create a plan that works best for you and all loved ones involved. We service individuals and families from Idaho Falls to Rexburg to Ashton to Driggs.

To find out more or to create a plan for your mother’s care, just fill out the contact form below and we will be in touch. You can also call us at 208-557-4215.

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Social Isolation and Self Neglect: The Unknown Dangers That May Be Killing The Elderly – And Seven Ways To Prevent Them

Posted on January 21, 2014February 25, 2015 by admin

What is the danger that impacts more seniors every day as the senior population grows? It is not what you would typically think, nor is it something people are comfortable talking about. But the danger is deadly real. There are simple steps to overcome it. Read on.

When people consider what is killing the elderly, they may consider the dangers of falling. That makes sense. The CDC reports that one out of every three seniors fall every year – but less than half of them talk to their healthcare providers about it. It also makes sense because falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. It also makes sense since almost 22,000 people were killed by accidental falls in 2010.

But that is not what this article is about.

We can talk about falls. It is easy to talk about. We laugh about the tagline from the commercial that was drilled into our psyche about falling and not being able to get up.

But again, that is not what this article is about. This article is about what no one likes to talk about. And no one laughs about. And most people fear at any stage in their life.

This article is about Social Isolation.

Senior Experiencing Social Isolation - 1 Assist Care of the Valley Helps Overcome This

Seniors experiencing social isolation may reduce their life expectancy by up to 26%. Read below to find out seven ways to change this.

Last year, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported that seniors who were socially isolated had a 26% higher death risk during a seven year period than those who were the most social.

That is scary. But want to know something even scarier?

That risk does not change even if the senior does not consider themselves lonely.

Yikes.

According to the U.S. Census, 11.3 million seniors live alone. That represents almost a third of seniors. If you are a senior woman, by the time you are 80, that percentage grows to almost half.

Social isolation often leads to self neglect. This neglect does not always occur on purpose. Try living alone for a week and see how your life changes. Not because you want to, but simply because it does.

The U.S. Administration on Aging suggests the following signs of self neglect:

Dehydration, malnutrition, untreated or improperly attended medical conditions, and poor personal hygiene;
Hazardous or unsafe living conditions/arrangements (e.g., improper wiring, no indoor plumbing, no heat, no running water);
Unsanitary or unclean living quarters (e.g., animal/insect infestation, no functioning toilet, fecal/urine smell);
Inappropriate and/or inadequate clothing, lack of the necessary medical aids (e.g., eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures)

The good news is that there is hope. There are ways to increase the social interaction of your loved one, and it does not have to mean you are carrying the entire load and being the sole source of interaction.

Here are some suggestions:

Drop by your loved one’s unexpectedly. See if you see any signs as listed above. If so, make a plan for changes.
Reach out to your parent’s old friends in the neighborhood. Is there a way that they can get together even once a week? Once a month?
Introduce your parent to social media. It should not replace physical social interactions, but the number of seniors joining Facebook in 2013 almost doubled when compared to how many were on Facebook in 2012.
Hire a caregiver. Caregivers are there to provide help around the house as well as one-on-one social interaction. While not medical help, they can also help identify when medical needs are not being met. (1 Assist Care of the Valley can arrange a stellar one for your loved one – and they are usually less expensive than an assisted living facility).
Help find community activities. Are their local activities geared for seniors? Are their friends performing, speaking, etc?
Find a way for them to volunteer.
Request help from their local church. Can someone drop by once or twice a week? Maybe once a month is not enough.

To find help for either yourself or for your loved one in East Idaho, give us a call at 208-557-4215 or click on Contact Us in the menu at the top of the screen.

We will work with you to create a plan to help end the social isolation that either you or your loved one is experiencing.

This blog is not intended to be nor should be used for medical advice. For such advice, seek out a medical professional.

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