Caring for elderly parents is not for the faint of heart because you're a novice in uncharted territory. But when things get tough, you definitely have to be grateful you have your parents (!!!) and remember that many other people would give everything they have to have just one more day with their mom and

Here’s an overview of the various creative gadgets for the elderly living alone. I have listed some assistive devices for the elderly and traditional Here’s an overview of the various creative gadgets for elderly living alone. I have listed some assistive devices for elderly and traditional elder care equipment that allows your loved one live independently.

Caring for elderly parents can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. It can be difficult to find balance between tending to their needs while taking care of your own family, life and responsibilities.

Best Elderly Care Application designed by Excellent Webworld. Connect with them on Dribbble; the global community for designers and creative professionals.

10 whiteboard activity ideas. A compilation of ideas for activities to do on a whiteboard. A versitile tool for anyone working with others.

If you're struggling to meal prep for elderly parents these are the Quickest and Easiest options that everyone will love.

Routinely - Elderly Care designed by Kriti Goyal. Connect with them on Dribbble; the global community for designers and creative professionals.

I am always looking for ideas to shake up my OT treatments and try to get creative with activity tolerance activities, because it is just NOT functional or

Ecare - Elderly Care Company designed by Wildan 👋 for 10am Studio. Connect with them on Dribbble; the global community for designers and creative professionals.

Gentle exercise for the arms as well as an opportunity to socialize! This is a great for game for the elderly which is suitable for people living with dementia.

Easy leaf print quote craft for seniors living with early to mid-stage dementia. Simple supplies you probably already have! Great for indiviuals and groups.

Laughing doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter has been clinically proven to strengthen your immune system, activate and relieve your stress response and stimulate many organs. In this article we cover: Sometimes Laughter is the Best Medicine 10 Benefits of Laughter Tips for Adding Humour to your Facility 12 Activities to Make People Laugh The Importance Of Laughter In Long Term Care Facilities ›

Here are the must-have products for dementia caregivers. Caring for someone with Alzheimer's or memory loss is very difficult. These items make it easier.

Playing games in long term care facilities & nursing homes offers clients much more than just entertainment. The impact that playing games has on the health and well-being of individuals has been well documented. Playing games provides an important source of relaxation, socialization and mental stimulation. In this article we cover: Benefits of Playing Games Adapting Games to Match Abilities 20+ Games for People Living with Dementia

Folks dealing with dementia need engaging activities to help them with their cognitive skills. Its tricky to keep things interesting and suitable for their level.

Older adults who have trouble swallowing get choked easily and even experience pain when eating. So, here are some easy to swallow foods for elderly people that are nutritious too!

If you're struggling to meal prep for elderly parents these are the Quickest and Easiest options that everyone will love.

People with limited mobility, whether due to illness or frailty, often face feelings of isolation and boredom. To address these challenges and enhance their well-being, it is crucial to provide residents with meaningful and engaging activities that can significantly improve their quality of life.

Whiteboards are an indispensable tool for Activity Coordinators and can be used for group activities, communication and learning! In this article we cover: The Advantages of Using Whiteboards Types of Whiteboards How Whiteboards can be used by Activity Coordinators Five Whiteboard Games to Play

For the elderly who loved to read all their lives, listening to someone read to them can bring profound comfort and joy. Why not start a Read-Aloud Readers Group activity at your facility; a Book Club with a difference! Read-aloud activities are an intervention well worth pursuing. In this article we cover: The Benefits of Reading Aloud to the Elderly Reading Aloud for Families How to Find Suitable Reading Material Read-Aloud Books for Dementia Care Types of Reading Activities for Elders 5 Attributes of a Good Reader Read-aloud Stories to get started with

Let the thrill of the Olympic Games transform your facility into a vibrant hub of activity and enthusiasm for a few days! An Olympic-themed day is a fantastic way to bring excitement and fun to seniors in your facility. Embracing the Olympic spirit promotes camaraderie, physical activity, and mental engagement among your residents. In this article, we cover: How to Plan Your In-House Olympic Games 5 Olympic Games for Staff 5 Olympic Games for Residents Ideas for Olympic Crafts

We often underestimate what a kind word, a touch, a smile, a sympathetic listening ear, or a compliment can do for mental health. During your working hours, you will see many clients outside of programmed activities; seize the opportunity and engage with them. It will only take a minute or two and can transform someone's state of mind and lift their spirits more than you can imagine.

People with limited mobility, whether due to illness or frailty, often face feelings of isolation and boredom. To address these challenges and enhance their well-being, it is crucial to provide residents with meaningful and engaging activities that can significantly improve their quality of life.

Help and Support for Alzheimers Caregivers. Practical and Emotional Help for those Coping Alone. Alzheimers Resources and Support.

Through my experience working in a skilled nursing and long term care facility, I have found that patients can greatly benefit from therapy exercises and strategies to improve their breathing coordination as well as expiratory duration and strength. This in turn will positively affect their breath support, swallowing and communication skills. Patients who have are ... Read More about When Communication, Cognition And Swallowing Are Affected By Decreased Breath Support

My husband's Mom with Alzheimers moved in with us a while ago and I realized pretty early on we have some serious differences in our idea of personal cleanliness. Here are some thoughts about why Alzheimer and Dementia patients don't want to wash AND some tips and ideas about how to get them clean!

Wondering whether to invest in senior art therapy? Here are 8 benefits of art therapy for the elderly, which also help senior caregivers.

People living with dementia deserve to live to their full potential, with meaningful activities and the right support to achieve maximum engagement in social and leisure pursuits. Engagement and participation are good indicators of quality of life for nursing homes and other senior care organisations. In this article we cover: 9 Principles of The Montessori Approach 12 Examples of Suitable Montessori-style Activities What is Successful Engagement?

Your morning exercise program helps residents gain strength and weekly yoga classes help them increase their range of motion. But do you have a brain exercise program in place? Brain exercises are just as important as physical exercise for our residents. Learn a bit more about neurobics and why these interventions are key to keeping brains fit! In this article we cover: What Are Neurobic Brain Exercises? How It’s Different Than Trivia Breaking Routine New Learning Sensory Stimulation Working All the Brain

We all know that exercise is good for us but for some reason, the older we get, the less we do. Contrary to popular belief, poor balance and muscle weakness has a lot more to do with inactivity than age. In this article we cover: The Benefits of Exercise for the Elderly How to Get Resident to Participate Make Group Exercises Fun with Props Use Music to Lift Spirits Keep Sessions Short Tips for Running Group Sessions Sample Exercise Routine

Aphasia is a communication disorder that results from damage or injury to the brain. A person with aphasia may have trouble understanding, speaking, reading, or writing. In this article we cover: Types of Aphasia 10 Communication Strategies for Activity Staff Aphasia Activity Ideas for Activity Coordinators Printable Activities

Caring for someone living with dementia? Join over 10K subscribers! Get our weekly newsletter and instant access to our free RESOURCE LIBRARY of printable dementia activities and caregiver resources! CRAFTSWord SearchesGAMESCAREGIVER TIPSCricut ProjectsSHOP Featured Posts

Learn how to make this snowman in our Keep Discovering Membership! Join us and you can find him in our January Printable bundle!

Someone you know has just taken on the role of caregiver to an elderly person. What do you say? Should you say or ask anything? It may not seem like this would be a life changing event for a person, so why does your friend/sibling/colleague/professor etc. seem so caught up in what they are doing? Well. It is a life changing event. And you may notice the impact as you see the caregiver less, or hear them speak of their caregiving duties more often. If you are wondering how to talk to them about what they do, please, refrain form saying anything like: 1. What Do You Do All Day? Unless you are honestly asking for a detailed list, then you shouldn't ask. Why? Because it implies that a caregiver is either a) lazy or b) bored. Most caregivers would probably LOVE to have one day where they could be bored and lazy. But the truth is they are busy, frazzled multi-tasking maniacs that are doing so many things in one day that they can't even remember them all! A more appropriate question might be: "How do you manage to get everything done in a day?" If you are curious about what goes on in a caregiver's day, then this question will open up a conversation. 2. How Hard Could It Be? Taking care of another adult does not sound hard at all. The sad truth is that sometimes it is even more difficult than taking care of children. Sometimes it isn't physically hard, but it may be emotionally trying. After all, many people take on the role of caregiving knowing that they will be caring for their loved ones up to and after the time of death. That thought alone makes this a very difficult job, and not one to be taken lightly. If you are curious about whether or not caring for the elderly is hard, you might phrase your question this way: "I've heard some people say it was easy, and some say that it was hard. How is it going for you so far?" This gives the person a chance to explain both the ups and downs. 3. You Are Doing the BEST Thing Caregivers hear this a lot. But unless you truly know this person, their situation and their thoughts on it, this remark should be kept behind sealed lips. Why? It can be very reassuring to a caregiver who is struggling to do their best, and hoping they made the right choice by keeping their loved one at home. At the same time, it can be smothering to someone who may be feeling like its time to move their elderly loved one to a facility. Or to someone who is struggling with the fact that they were pressured into caregiving to begin with. If you want to offer reassurance, Nina, a reluctant caregiver for two parents with Alzheimer's, recommends something like this: "I admire what you are doing." As she says, "It feels more flexible to be admired for what we are doing, than to feel like we are being pushed toward martyrdom. When people tell me that I'm doing the best thing, it adds to my stress and guilt. It makes me feel like choosing to put my father into a skilled nursing facility would be deliberately choosing to do something worse for him." 4. I Know How You Feel Unless you have honestly been in the same situation, this standard line should be avoided. Its not that it isn't a nice thing to say, its just that if you really can't relate, the sentiment can feel fake and empty. Josh, who cared for his father during a long battle with cancer, states: "When someone says they know how I feel, then I want to talk about what we both feel. Share some experiences. When I find out they haven't actually been there, then I feel awkward. Its even worse when they come up with something like it was the time their cat was run over by a car or something. That just tells me they want to change the subject. I feel bad about their cat, but its not the same." 5. Isn't That Gross? Well, yes it is, agrees several people who are elderly caregivers. But, they don't want to talk about it with you, unless there is a good reason. (For example, if you have a caregiving tip that will make a task easier to manage.) "Otherwise, I get a little shock when someone asks me something about the gross factor of caregiving. Especially if they ask me how I handle seeing my parent naked." Most people respect their elderly loved ones enough that they don't want to tell strangers about their bodily functions or what its like to change an adult diaper. There actually isn't a better way to phrase this question. Instead, go ahead and say what you really mean: " I'm not sure I could handle doing all the personal stuff." Caregivers will understand! 6. That is What Nursing Homes are For Just don't say it. The choice between caring for an elder at home, or placing them in a nursing home is not an easy one for most people to make. Big surprise! They already knew nursing homes existed before you came along to tell them. They have their reasons for not using them. But they may use one in the future. If you see someone having a bad day caring for their toddler, you (hopefully) wouldn't say; "That's what orphanages are for!" Family caregivers each make a dedicated choice to do what feels right at the moment. It may change as the years go by, but they will figure out on their own when they need to change the way they do things. The nicest alternative you could use would be... "I always thought nursing homes were the only place to age. Its nice to see something different. I wish you the best of luck." Likewise, if a caregiver does place their loved one in long-term care, they don't need to hear statements such as: "I can't believe you did that to your mom/dad when you could've just done it at home." There are so many factors in aging care that prevent a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, trust that the person you know has made a tough decision based on their own family situation, resources, abilities and health. Instead say something respectful, supportive, and truly helpful. Such as: "How about we go have coffee and get your mind off of things for awhile?"

Read the most comprehensive list of finger foods for elderly and download your free PDF copy as compiled by a Registered Dietitian!