CAREGIVER • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 • 3
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Painting by a Memory Care resident
Art is a way to express ourselves. For those living with
dementia, it can mean so much more. Residents with
dementia face many roadblocks when it comes to
communicating. The St. Barnabas Memory Care Team
often uses art as a means of helping residents to
express themselves.
Residents enjoy painting, adult coloring and trying their
hands at a variety of art forms. These activities foster
creative thinking and provide the artist with a sense of
accomplishment, increased self-esteem and pride. This
is just one way the Memory Care Team at St. Barnabas
helps color the world of our residents.
Formore information and to schedule a personal tour,
please call 724- 443-0700.
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ASSISTANCE AWAITS
SIGNS YOUR PARENTS
NEED HELP AT HOME
(StatePoint) — Every
day, roughly 10,000 baby
boomers nationwide turn
65, according to the Pew Research
Center, which means
that a growing number of
Americans are dealing with
the many challenges associated
with aging parents or
relatives.
Among them is determining
when parents might need
assistance they aren’t currently
receiving.
“Asking for help and
depending on others for care
may make an individual feel
like a burden to family or
friends. The goal of home
care should be to strengthen
the mind and the body, lift
spirits and support loved
ones in a way that makes life
worth living,” said Jennifer
Sheets, president and chief
executive officer of Caring
Brands International and
Interim HealthCare Inc.
“This whole person and
individualized approach
allows caregivers to look for
ways to empower people at
home.”
Unfortunately, when
seniors struggle with basic
tasks, such as self-care,
transportation or household
chores, they don’t always talk
about it.
They could be embarrassed
or afraid of losing their
independence or homes. Still
others might not even realize
anything is amiss, particularly
if they’re in the beginning
stages of dementia.
Interim HealthCare shares
some warning signs that an
aging loved one might be in
need of senior care:
• A change in mood, such
as depression, anxiety or
a loss of interest in social
activities and hobbies.
• Significant weight loss,
which can happen for a
variety of reasons, including
serious physical and mental
disorders.
• Issues with mobility and
balance. These can be signs
of joint, muscle or neurological
problems, and can
increase the likelihood of
falls.
• Bruises, cuts or scrapes
are sometimes evidence of
falls or kitchen mishaps,
and a potential indication of
declining physical agility.
• Piles of bills, unwatered
plants and overflowing hampers
— these are just a few
of the many signs that basic
tasks are being neglected.
• New dents or dings on
your parents’ vehicle. These
could be signs that safe driving
has become an issue.
• Stains, missing buttons
and untrimmed nails, are
signs of neglected personal
hygiene.
• No food in the house,
or moldy, stale or spoiled
food, might mean a parent is
struggling to grocery shop or
cook or might have even lost
interest in eating.
• A prescription stockpile
could indicate your parent
is forgetting to take critical
pills.
• Stacks of unopened
bills, late payment notices,
unbalanced checkbooks
and wads of cash stashed in
odd places, are all signs of
mismanaged money.
If a parent requires extra
care, consider all your options,
including in-home assistance,
which allows older
adults to continue living at
home, while getting needed
help.
Look for care that offers
a whole-person approach
and looks beyond basic
needs to encompass mind,
body, spirit and family to
develop specific protocols
and interactive activities that
stimulate the brain, improve
motor functions and help
seniors feel in control of
their days.
If your parents are displaying
signs of needed care,
getting them this support
is crucial — both for their
immediate health and safety,
as well as their overall happiness
and wellness.
STATEPOINT
Home health care can help prolong your parents’ ability
to continue living at home.