Live Free Home Health Care, LLC. - Bristol, New Hampshire

All posts within: holiday blues

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Fight the Holiday Blues with a Rainbow of Possibilities

Helping Seniors Experience the Joys of the Season

Bristol – November 18, 2009 – For most people, the holidays represent a wonderful time of year to share the joys of family and friendship. But for some older adults, this time of year can be extremely difficult if their mental, physical and emotional needs are not taken into consideration. For the elderly, the nostalgic season and memories of friends and family members that they have outlived, or the long distances that separate family member can become even more painful during the holidays. In addition, older family members with special needs can get lost in the shuffle and chaos of happy family gatherings.

“For many older adults, the memories of holidays past outshine present day celebrations, and they find it difficult to experience joy in the present,” said Jason Harvey, Owner of Live Free Home Health Care. “However there are some easy ways to bring joy back to the season for older adults and their families.”

This year, bring a little color to a senior to help avoid the holiday blues. Live Free Home Health Care suggests a rainbow of possibilities to spruce up the season for elderly loved ones in the local community.

RED: In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration. Red is also the color of happiness and prosperity in China. What better way to celebrate the joy of the season than to offer assistance in decorating an elderly family member’s house for the holidays? Set up a Christmas tree or menorah. Talk about the history behind some of the decorations that have been handed down through the years. Don’t forget to also volunteer to help take down the decorations after the holidays!

Red can also signify avoiding embarrassing moments. Try to avoid making comments that could inadvertently embarrass an older friend or family members who may be experiencing memory problems.

ORANGE: Put some logs on the fire or light some candles and cozy up to reminisce about special times and people. Often, older people whose memories are impaired may have difficulty recalling recent events, but find it easy to share stories and observations from the past. Reminiscing can bring smiles, but remember to balance any discussion on the past with talk about the present and future. Reminders about fun upcoming events, whether it is coffee with friends in an hour, a vacation next week or a daughter's wedding in a year may result in having positive feelings about the future as well as the past.

YELLOW: Turn on some lights and get out of the house. Shorter days and less sunlight cause people to tire earlier, especially as they get older. In addition, be aware of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), an illness that can be provoked by reductions in sunlight during the short days of winter. Make time for activities that will increase exposure to sunlight. Seniors need new things to anticipate during the holidays, and for those that rarely get out of the house, this may be a very special treat. Stay active and turn some lights on when dusk approaches.

GREEN: Eat healthy and avoid alcohol. Watch out for those heavy or carb-loaded foods that make a person feel tired. Also, alcohol is a depressant and should be drunk at parties and gatherings with moderation or not at all, as it can interfere with medications and increase some symptoms of the holiday blues. When preparing holiday meals, involve everyone, breaking down tasks to include the youngest and the oldest family members. Older adults with physical limitations can still be included in kitchen activities by asking them to do a simple, helpful task, like greasing cooking pans, peeling vegetables, folding napkins or arranging flowers. Also, help older adults stay healthy by adhering to their regular schedule of medications during the frenzy of the holidays.

BLUE: Many seniors feel depressed and sad during the holidays but hide this from friends and family because they don't want to worry anyone by displaying these feelings. Encourage your loved ones to talk about it. Don’t view sadness as taboo. Many people experience it at some point and often talking about it with others can help. Someone specially trained to help those with depression can also be a valuable asset in determining if more serious intervention is needed.

PURPLE: Make a senior feel like royalty and assign someone to be the day’s companion to the senior, making sure he or she is comfortable. Social connectedness is extremely important at holiday times, and spending quality time with senior family members can make it easier for them to be social. However, be sure to plan ahead. If older family members tire easily or are vulnerable to over-stimulation, limit the number of activities they are involved in or the length of them they are included. Take into consideration time for naps or “quiet time” in a quiet part of the house.

Ensuring that an elderly loved one experiences joy during the holidays can seem challenging at first, but there are many available resources to help. Oftentimes an extra pair of hands, such as Live Free Home Health Care provides, can be helpful for dealing with a frail family member’s everyday tasks of cleaning, cooking, transportation and shopping, so that the concentration can be on spending quality time together during the holidays. For more information about helping seniors in our local community beat the holiday blues, please contact Live Free Home Health Care.

About Live Free Home Health Care, LLC:

Serving the Lakes Region and Central New Hampshire, Live Free Home Health Care, LLC is dedicated to providing top quality care in the comfort of home as an alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Family owned and operated, Live Free Home Health Care offers a wide range of services, from companion care and assistance with activities of daily living to skilled nursing, and all care is supervised and updated by a registered nurse. Live Free Home Health Care also offers medical alert systems to provide extra peace of mind should an emergency care need arise. Whether the need is for short or long term care, Live Free Home Health Care’s compassionate staff promises to treat each client respectfully and like a cherished family member. For further information, contact (603) 217-0149 or visit www.LiveFreeHomeHealthCare.com.

Tags:   holiday blues

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Holiday Blues - Depression in the Elderly

The holiday season is quickly coming upon us. If you are a caregiver for an elderly loved one, you may notice a change in your loved one's mood as the holidays approach. Perhaps you are one of many, who visit elderly parents and family during the holidays who live a distance away. When you visit you may notice that loved ones are not as physically active, or they show symptoms of fatigue or sadness and have no interest in the holiday or in their surroundings.

According to the National Institutes of Health; of the 35 million Americans age 65 or older, about 2 million suffer from full-blown depression. Another 5 million suffer from less severe forms of the illness. This represents about 20% of the senior population -- a significant proportion.

Depression in the elderly is difficult to diagnose and is frequently untreated. The symptoms may be confused with a medical illness, dementia, or malnutrition due to a poor diet. Many older people will not accept the idea that they have depression and refuse to seek treatment.

What causes depression in the elderly?

It is not the actual holiday that causes depression, but the fact that holidays tend to bring memories of earlier, perhaps happier times. Additional contributing factors that bring on depression may be the loss of a spouse or close friend, or a move from a home to assisted living, or a change with an older person's routine.

Depression may also be a sign of a medical problem. Chronic pain or complications of an illness or memory loss can also cause depression. In addition, diet can also be a factor when proper nutrition and vitamins are lacking.

As an example, Selma’s husband passed away, a few months before Christmas. Her family lived close by and would call or drop in often to check on her. Selma seemed a little preoccupied and tired, but this was to be expected as she had been the caregiver for her husband for many years. It wasn’t until the family noticed that her holiday decorations were not out and her yearly routine of Christmas card writing was not happening that they began questioning her mental and physical well being.

A trip to her physician confirmed depression, caused by not only the loss of her spouse, but a vitamin B12 deficiency. There were both mental and physical reasons for her depression.

Symptoms to look for in depression might include:

• Depressed or irritable mood
• Feelings of worthlessness or sadness
• Expressions of helplessness
• Anxiety
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Lack of attending to personal care and hygiene
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irresponsible behavior
• Obsessive thoughts about death
• Talk about suicide

How do you know if it is depression or dementia?

Depression and dementia share similar symptoms. A recent article on Helpguide.org gives some specific differences:

In depression there is a rapid mental decline, but memory of time, date and awareness of the environment remains. Motor skills are slow, but normal in depression. Concern with concentrating and worry about impaired memory may occur.

On the other hand, dementia symptoms reveal a slow mental decline with confusion and loss of recognizing familiar locations. Writing, speaking and motor skills are impaired and memory loss is not acknowledged as a being problem by the person suffering dementia.

Whether it is depression or dementia, prompt treatment is recommended. A physical exam will help determine if there is a medical cause for depression. A geriatric medical practitioner is skilled in diagnosing depression and illnesses in the elderly. If you are a care taker of an elderly person it may be beneficial for you to seek out a geriatric health care specialist. For more information on senior health services go to http://www.longtermcarelink.net/about_senior_health_services.htm or visit our website at www.livefreehomehealthcare.com.

Treating depression in older people.

Once the cause of depression is identified, a treatment program can be implemented. Treatment may be as simple as relieving loneliness through visitations, outings and involvement in family activities. In more severe cases antidepressant drugs have been known to improve the quality of life in depressed elderly people. Cognitive therapy sessions with a counselor may also be effective.

As a care giver or family member of a depressed older person, make it your responsibility to get involved. The elder person generally denies any problems or may fear being mentally ill. You can make the difference in and remove the Holiday Blues from seniors suffering from depression.

The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation offers a “Depression Tool Kit.” To read more about the tool kit and depression in the elderly go to http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/depression_toolkit.html

Tags:   caregiver, dementia, depression, holiday blues

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