Author: Rae Booth

Flu season is officially upon us, and we must be knowledgeable to make the best possible decisions. Seniors face higher flu risks, so they must plan carefully and take proactive steps to protect their health. Influenza—or, more simply—the flu, is highly contagious and can have serious consequences, especially in older adults. Everyone must have effective strategies for prevention, recognizing symptoms early, and managing health effectively.

Let’s discuss how older adults can take essential steps to care for themselves and how others can gain the knowledge to support the seniors that we love.

What does assisted living emergency preparedness mean, and why is it important? Assisted living means providing mature adults with a lifestyle that allows them to maintain independence in a secure environment. At Silverbell Homestead, there’s around-the-clock care. We provide physical activities and healthy options. We manage caregiver aid and medication management. Our facilities offer lifelong learning to stave off cognitive decline. The staff promotes social engagement. Silverbell team members take residents shopping at malls and to local attractions and religious services. We celebrate holidays, birthdays, etc., as a family.

However, the priority is safety. Like any homeowner, we prepare for the worst. Ever hopeful for the best, our communities are ready for the worst. You can’t avoid a storm or a local power outage. However, you can do your best to minimize the chaos with essential emergency planning and preparedness.

When a disaster happens, it affects everyone. Some effects are direct — injury, loss of life, and property — but others are less so. The emotional impact of a disaster is felt not just by those in the disaster zone but, in our connected world, by everyone. Elders’ emotions can be impacted particularly strongly. While many seniors are more resilient simply because they have lived through so many disasters, big and small, others are more vulnerable. People with cognitive challenges may also feel the impact because they might not understand what is happening around them.

How can you help your loved one deal with the emotions? Here are some things older adults are particularly prone to — and how you can help them get through it.

Your parents have always been a supporting pillar in your life. You want to see them as strong, capable, and independent. Even in their senior years, it’s nice when parents can still live on their own and enjoy independence, even with the help of family or caregivers. However, there may come a time when your parents can no longer live at home safely. Signs of dementia are common in the very elderly, and a little forgetfulness can be handled with routine. But at what point does your parent need memory care?

Memory care is a residential solution that helps seniors live safely when they can no longer care for themselves. These five signs can tell you when memory care is the right answer for your aging parents.

Caring for a family member is the right thing to do. You know it deep in your heart and dedicate your time to care because you love your relative. However, many family caregivers struggle to maintain themselves and their loved ones without a complete support structure. You need assistance, personal time for self-care, social connections, and care resources to ensure that you and your family remain healthy and positive in the act of caregiving.

How can you identify these challenges, when should you seek support, and what kind of support is available for family caregivers? Silverbell Homestead is here to help you answer these questions and more.

Whether you are exploring assisted living options for you or someone close to you, it is difficult to determine when the right time is to make a move. At Silverbell Homestead, we understand how stressful—and emotional—it can be as you research these options.

We want to make your journey easier by explaining the signs that show it might be time for assisted living. By the end, you will have a better understanding as to when you or your loved one should consider this option.

Whether it is your parent, your spouse’s parent, or another senior relative, most people will eventually have to broach the subject of their loved one needing assistance with the tasks of daily living. Knowing how to bring up the subject of assisted living can be tough. Conversations about transitioning to this type of service can also be emotionally challenging for seniors and their loved ones.

Here are some tips to make these discussions as smooth and supportive as possible.

When it comes time to locate the best senior living facility for your loved one, you need to make several crucial considerations. The staff-to-resident ratio should always be chief among them, for many reasons. The following advantages are extremely pivotal for residents and their families who are looking to enhance their peace of mind. Learn more about why you should prioritize a high staff-to-resident ratio when choosing a nursing home.

It is never easy to watch your parents get old. In our minds, parents are giants who will always be at their peak of strength and energy. Just as your parents will always see you as their child, you will always remember them as the people who held you when you were little, taught you your first skills, encouraged you on your first victories, and helped you launch as a young adult.