Social Isolation

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults and vulnerable populations have been encouraged to stay safe and stay home as much as possible. While staying home offers protection from the virus, we’re now witnessing harmful effects in terms of social isolation, loneliness and depression among older adults.

A poll shows that loneliness among older adults doubled during the first months of COVID-19. Whereas 27 percent of adults aged 50 to 80 felt isolated from others in October 2018, this increased to 56 percent of this population feeling isolated from March to June of 2020. Similarly, 28 percent of people reported limited social contact in 2018, versus 46 percent in June 2020.

Loneliness and social isolation are real threats to the health of those we love. Studies show that chronic loneliness can affect our loved one’s memory, mental and physical health and overall longevity.

How can we help mitigate loneliness and social isolation for those we love?

Here are seven ideas for helping to bring joy and happiness into the home amid continued isolation:

Get Outside. Being outdoors and around living things can have a transformative effect on our overall mood and wellbeing. Help arrange a balcony, patio, porch or yard space for your loved one with a comfortable chair and some plants nearby. The patio can be a space to soak up a little Vitamin D and safely spend time connecting with neighbors, friends and loved ones.

Facilitate a Virtual Connection. Help set up a video chat platform for your loved one and schedule an (at least!) weekly time to chat. If the concern is that Grandma isn’t tech savvy enough to video chat, think again! There are a variety of tablets and portals geared toward older adults, including Google Nest + Hub, The GrandPad, Echo Show, ViewClix and Konnekt Videophone. You make it easy for them, set it up and show them how to just click on a name to connect.

Get Moving. If your loved one is in good physical health and the weather is mild, arrange for a daily constitutional with a trusted caregiver. A stroll outside the house with the opportunity to safely chat with a neighbor from a good distance is good for the soul.

Find a Furry Friend. If your loved one is living independently and is in good health, the companionship of a small dog or cat provides a fun diversion and some emotional support. Caregivers can assist with simple tasks that enable your loved one to benefit from the enjoyable parts of pet ownership without the hassles.

Consider a (Virtual) Assistant. Devices such as Google Home or Amazon Echo can offer daily reminders for routines, provide weather reports, play their favorite songs and games.

Encourage Spirituality. Prayer and meditation are good for the mind and the body. Have a caregiver read your loved ones’ favorite scriptures or pray with them. Helping your loved one draw closer to God can help diminish their feelings of loneliness that come with isolation.

Drop the Beat. Create an uplifting playlist with your loved one in mind. It could be worship songs, music from their youth or anything with a happy rhythm.

It’s important to speak honestly to your loved ones about their feelings of loneliness and isolation. Encourage them to share how they’re feeling, and implement mood-lifting strategies with the help of a trusted caregiver!

We would love to help. To start the conversation, reach out here.

Tips for Communicating with Your Loved One Who Has Alzheimer’s or Dementia

If someone you care about has Alzheimer’s or dementia, you know that communication can be challenging. By understanding what has changed with their communication skills and how to approach them differently, we as caregivers can support them in the most kind and loving way possible.

A person with Alzheimer’s may have problems with the following communication skills:

• Finding the right word or losing his/her train of thought while speaking

• Understanding the meaning of words

• Paying attention during long conversations

• Remembering the steps in common activities they’ve done thousands of times, such as getting dressed or cooking a meal

• Blocking out background noises from the radio, TV or secondary conversations

• Sensitivity to touch, tone and loudness of voices

To make communication easier, you can:

• Make eye contact and call this person by name.

• Be aware of the tone of your voice, your body language, and how you look at a person. If these appear to contribute to their distress, adjust your approach.

• Encourage two-way conversation for as long as possible.

• Use other methods besides speaking, such as gentle touch.

• If communication creates a problem, try a distraction.

To encourage them to communicate with you, you can:

• Show a warm, loving, matter-of-fact manner.

• Hold the person’s hand while you talk.

• Be open to the person’s concerns, even if he or she is hard to understand.

• Let him or her make some decisions and stay involved.

• Be patient with angry outbursts. Remember, it’s the illness “talking.”

To communicate effectively with a person who has Alzheimer’s, you can:

• Offer simple, step-by-step instructions.

• Repeat instructions and allow more time for a response. Try not to interrupt.

• Don’t talk about the person as if he or she isn’t there.

• Don’t talk to the person using “baby talk” or a “baby voice.”

In your communication, be direct, specific and positive.

• Say “Let’s try it this way,” instead of pointing out mistakes.

• Say “Please do this.” Instead of “Don’t do this.”

• Say “Thanks for helping.” Even if the end results aren’t perfect.

At Redeemed In-Home Care, our caregivers are trained in these methods of effective, sensitive communication to reach individuals who have Alzheimer’s or dementia. To start a conversation about our team coming alongside you to care for your loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, reach out to us here.

How Do I Know When to Start In-Home Care?

Choosing to bring caregivers into your life requires carefully assessing your unique situation, considering your available options and placing your trust in others to provide personalized attention.

At Redeemed In-Home Care, we have the special experience of sourcing quality caregivers for others and having our very own loved ones as the recipients of such care. Having made this decision ourselves, we’re able to see it from your perspective.

How do you know when it’s time to start in-home care? Begin by becoming aware of these signs it may be time.

10 Signs It’s Time to Begin In-Home Care

1. Struggles With Home Upkeep. A cluttered, dirty home may be a sign that your loved one physically/emotionally has too much to manage on their own. Piles of belongings around the home and an overgrown/unkempt home exterior can present potential safety issues.

2. Hygiene Issues. Personal hygiene can devolve over time. Pay attention to appearance and body odor. Soiled clothing or piles of clothing could indicate someone is not physically able to do the laundry. Or they may have a memory issue that’s preventing them from completing personal hygiene tasks.

3. Weight Change. A noticeable change in body weight could mean that someone is struggling physically to prepare their own nutritious meals or could allude to their lack of desire to eat stemming from loneliness or depression.

4. Problems Driving. Traffic tickets, dents and dings on a vehicle and accidents are all red flags that your loved one’s driving may have become a hazard to themselves and others.

5. Confusion. Patterns of confused behavior could indicate memory problems or dementia onset. Confusion could also indicate other underlying medical issues or medication mismanagement. Getting lost, forgetting routine tasks and mismanaging finances are all red flags.

6. Medication Mismanagement, Difficulty Following Physician’s Instructions. This can be a safety issue that presents significant medical and cognitive consequences. Is your loved one following care instructions sent home by their physician? Are they missing medications from their pillbox?

7. Loneliness. Now more than ever, social isolation is an epidemic among the elderly and can have a profound effect on mental and physical well-being. An in-home caregiver can provide companionship and help facilitate valued relationships for your loved one, leading to an uplifted mood and a renewed sense of purpose. We are all better together.

8. Falls. Repeated falls are a definite sign that something is wrong. Possible causes of falls could be weakness, worsening of a medical condition, cognitive problems or medication mismanagement. If a caregiver is not present to help minimize falls, this could lead to much more serious problems. Falls are the leading cause of disability for people over the age of 65.

9. Mobility Issues. Problems with mobility could include walking, as well as challenges in dressing, bathing and transferring from the bed or on and off the toilet.

10. Missed Appointments. If your loved one is missing scheduled appointments, it could be a memory issue or an organizational one. Either way, it’s important to determine the root cause of missed appointments for the mental and physical health of your loved one.

We know the decision to hire an in-home caregiver is unique to every family. Above all, we want the very best for your loved one, and we want you to have the utmost in confidence in their care. We’d love to schedule a virtual consultation or a phone call to further discuss any questions you may have. Reach out to us here.