Visiting Angels

Home Nursing and Personal Care Provider in Niagara, Toronto, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville

1-877-239-4397
nurse@visitingangels.ca
 
Canadian Owned & Operated
Head Office: St. Catharines

How To Prevent Elders From Being Scammed

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Scam artists unfortunately prey on seniors with money.

Why are the elderly more likely to become victims of a scam? AgingCare.com says they are vulnerable to scams because they tend to be too gullible, live alone and don’t have someone watching over their finances. Loneliness also plays a role, as elders are often grateful to have someone to talk to and don’t suspect that the “nice man” on the phone may be preying on them.

You may wonder… can anything be done about elderly scams? Caregivers can take some steps and identify red flags and help protect the elderly from scam artists, according to the Better Business Bureau.

These include:

  1. Becoming more involved with seniors financial decisions.
  2. Not allowing a senior to give out their personal information, such as banking information, credit card numbers or social security numbers.
  3. Telling a senior not to do business with someone who does not provide written information about his or her company.
  4. Visiting them regularly, asking about phone calls they have received and checking their mail box. Lots of junk mail may indicate an elderly person is on the “sucker list.”

To see the full list, Click Here.

Resources:

Marlo Sollito – AgingCare. How To Prevent Elders From Being Scammed. Retrieved from: https://www.agingcare.com/articles/prevent-elderly-becoming-scam-victims-138455.htm

For more tips and information, be sure to follow us on our Social Media accounts: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!

Nutrition and the Elderly

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As health complications arise that may make it harder for the elderly to eat, their nutrition often takes a serious hit; one which can be extremely detrimental to their overall health, or if gone unwatched, deadly.

It is essential that the elderly are eating. This may sound silly, but as many get sicker with other diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, or painful or debilitating injuries the preparation and consumption of food can quickly drop off. They may simply not remember they haven’t eaten that day or the amount of effort which would go into preparing or purchasing food may be impossible.

Making sure that the elderly are eating the proper foods is the next stage. Although some foods may be tough or too time consuming to make or eat there are many options. The important thing is to ensure that they are getting the essential nutrients provided by fruits, vegetables, and meat. Calcium is also necessary to help maintain bone strength and density.

Find what your loved one enjoys to eat and then ways to make that attainable for them. Even if that means mass prepping food for the week so that it can easily be reheated.

A Twinkle in your Wrinkle

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Have you ever looked at the calendar and wondered how what feels like just yesterday is actually months, or even years in the past? Aging sneaks up on all of us; as does many of the concerns that come with it, specifically those concerning our health. While we can’t avoid aging and all its wonders, we can learn to enjoy the experiences we have on the way and to cope with new challenges as they arise.

Visiting Angels Inc is a healthcare provider based in the Niagara Region committed to making the process of aging as painless as possible. Our company is comprised of a dedicated team of kind hearted professionals whose goal is to provide you or your loved one with the quality of care you expect and deserve. Visiting Angels has a staff with a variety of certifications meant to fit every client’s needs including registered nurses, registered practical nurses, personal support workers, health care aids, homemakers, social workers, child care workers and others at affordable rates.

Aging isn’t a process we can ignore, but it is one that is greatly affected by how we view it. Visiting Angels is here to assure that as our clients get older they maintain the best quality of life possible. We offer home care, personal care, palliative care, and medicine administration 24 hours a day. We are also equipped to handle brain and spinal injuries, post-operation recovery, and simply to provide companionship and help with everyday living activities such as laundry and meal preparation.

So how can you stay happy as you age? Try out a few of these tips:

Embrace it. The experiences we have at every age of our life are unique and won’t happen again. Enjoy them and look forward to your future.

Stay as active as possible. Even if it’s just a stroll around the block or dinner with a friend, keeping in contact with the world around you is important.

Spend time outside! Sunshine will do wonders for your mood.

Remember the importance of family and reach out to them often.

Get involved! Be it charity work, joining a book club, playing a sport or whatever tickles your fancy, it’s important to keep interacting with people and making connections.

Call 905-685-4242 or email nurse@visitingangels.ca for more information on how to keep that twinkle in your wrinkle and maintain the quality of life you deserve as you age.

Home Care or Facility Care? The Daunting Choice Families Make Everyday

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Choosing the right type of care for your loved one can seem like a daunting task, but if you take a look at these tips it might seem a whole lot simpler. And remember, what the best decision is can be different for everyone.

DO take what your loved one wants into consideration.

DO talk to multiple home care providers and facilities.

DO ask your loved one what they feel their needs are.

DON’T make decisions without consulting your loved one if they have the capacity to make for them self.

DON’T choose the cheapest company just because their rates are lowest.

DON’T only consider home care or facilities.

Home care or a facility?

This is the big question with most families. If your loved one is adamant they want to stay in their own home, sometimes the best decision is to allow them to do that with the aid of home care. However, patients who need round the clock medical care and are in a position where they should be close to a doctor or medical staff at all times should likely be moved to a health care facility.

The benefits of Home Care:

Home care allows your loved one to maintain much of their independence by providing them aid in doing everyday tasks. Advanced home care can easily be provided including administration of medication, meal preparation, and help with every day activities as well as running errands and attending appointments.

When it comes down to it, the best choice is the one both your family and loved one agree on. If they feel uncomfortable leaving their home for a care facility, we’d recommend trying home care initially, but if it fails to meet the quality of care dictated by their condition, moving them into a facility is always the right choice.

When is it time to offer your loved one extended help? Tips for having that conversation

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It can be a difficult conversation to have when you need to suggest to your loved one that they may need extended help, whether that’s more help than they can provide themselves or more than you are able to provide. It becomes increasingly more difficult when a traumatic accident hasn’t happened, such as a fall resulting in an injury or a diagnosis of a disease. When it’s simply old age that creeps up on our loved ones, often it’s difficult for them, and even for us, to admit they need help.

Our advice is simple; don’t wait for that traumatic accident. Have the conversation before the fall that breaks their leg or before you notice signs of malnutrition or the reappearance of symptoms if they happen to be forgetting medication. Although the conversation can be uncomfortable, it can also be a lot less scary if it’s done ahead of time.

Here are some tips on when to start that conversation, what to say, and how to achieve the best outcome for everyone:

Tip #1: Start the Conversation Early

Don’t wait for a traumatic event. As soon as you start seeing signs that your loved one may be struggling, suggest help, even if that help is just you.

If possible, start the conversation before you’re seeing these signs, sit down with your loved one and ask them what their expectations for the future are, if they’d ever consider moving to a retirement community or even a nursing home. It’s often best to know up front if your loved one is determined to remain independent in their own home rather than dealing with the emotional rush of an argument later on.

Tip #2: Be Calm and Respectful

Let’s be honest, you’d probably be more than a smidge upset if someone called you “old” or said that you couldn’t do things for yourself anymore, so try to understand that they won’t love the concept either. Be calm, be rationale, and take their opinion into consideration.

Ask them what they feel they need help with. They may surprise you with their ability to give up some of the responsibility around the home that could be endangering them, such as lifting heavy objects or mowing the lawn which can be hard on the neck, back, and shoulders. They may admit that the house isn’t as clean as it used to be or that they can’t clean certain places due to mobility limitations.

Tip #3: “You say you don’t need help with anything, Dad?”

Not everyone is going to roll over and admit they need help; sometimes you need to watch behaviour. If they’re struggling, offer a hand. If they aren’t, don’t. Empower them to do all the things they can do.

Tip #4: Start Small

Using phrases like, “I noticed it’s not as easy for you as it used to be to do _____________, if you’d like I could come and do _______ for you next weekend, we can grab coffee or something after.” By phrasing it as if you want to spend more time with them, they’re unlikely to turn you down.

You can also trying asking to complete tougher tasks with your loved one, such as gardening or doing house or handy work together.

When you say phrases like, “Common, you can’t do that anymore. Just stop, you’re going to hurt yourself!” While it might be true, your loved one is likely to feel a little attacked. You’re insulting their strength, their independence, and you’re not being calm. All of these are more likely to start an argument than to keep your loved one safe.

Tip #5: If you’re Not Enough Care, Admit it.

If you’re already helping your loved one, but it’s too much for you, admit that to both yourself and to them. There’s no sense becoming ill yourself from lack of sleep, injuring yourself, or losing your job.

If you’re going to bring in someone to work with your loved one, discuss it with them first. Tell them that you want them to have the best care possible and that you are bringing in someone to help out when you can’t be around or when tasks are too hard on your own physical limitations. Let them know how much it would mean to you if they were willing to at least give it a try.

The Power of Talk

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Socialization and seniors is a key issue when trying to maintain the elderly’s health. Human contact is something we all value, in one way or another, and whether we notice it or not, interacting with others improves our overall happiness and in turn, our health. Socialization can be as simple as going to a store to purchase groceries or playing a card game with friends. The important thing is to find an activity that works for you and you enjoy and make it an important aspect of your life.

Looking for some great ideas of how to socialize? Check out this list:

Any type of sports or exercise activity, including walking

Cards

Other board games

Getting coffee, lunch, dinner or just chatting with others

Going to the park or any outdoor place

Shopping or running errands for yourself, or with someone

Finding a buddy to try new activities

Online interaction, through devices such as Skype

For more ideas, contact us and speak to one of our Registered Nurses or Personal Support Workers!

Summer Goals

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When we hit 65 (or 50, or 100, or really anywhere in between) many of us think, I’ve retired, I get to relax, why do I need goals?

Goals keep people motivated, allow them to work towards something and experience success and give us reasons to act with new and differing communities.

Summer goals may sounds a lot like New Years Resolutions, but they don’t have to be. Here’s a few goals we suggest tackling this spring, chances are, they’ll also improve your overall health.

1. Go outside more often and be as active as you can. Tend a garden, offer to walk the neighbors dog, play with your grand kids or simply sit out doors. Even if your mobility is low, being outside can do wonders for your health. It allows you to absorb essential vitamins such as Vitamin D as well as has been proven to improve your move. Any light exercise you can do will also help to release endorphins.

2. Set aside a day each week where you make plans with a friend or family member. As we get older, we often become more reserved, especially if we continue to live at home into our later years. By setting aside a time each week, you can ensure that you’ll not only be leaving the house but getting the interaction that as human beings we need. Whether it’s a lunch, walk, card game, watching your grandchild’s baseball game, it counts so long as you leave the house.

3. Try new foods. By about 10, we pretty well know what foods we like… or so we think. Try some foods you hated as a child and see if you’ve developed a taste for them. You might find some new fruits, veggies or lean meats you love, giving you a better variety of vitamins and nutrients for your body.

4. Keep the house clean. We often let house work slide until someone comes over, but if you set out a schedule allowing you to do 1-2 tasks a day you can increase your overall activity level gradually. This is great for people looking to improve their mobility. In many cases, the more you move, the better you will feel over a longer length of time as muscles become more use to the workload. Be sure to do this very gradually and only take on tasks you know you are likely to be able to complete. If you’re not sure that you have the strength or ability, play it safe, or ask a family member for help the first time. Always check with your doctor if you have concerns.

5. Make time for family time. Our family keeps us connected, and is the first and strongest support system many of us will ever have. They cheer us on, make us happier, and cause us enough strife to get the adrenaline going on occasion. Don’t underestimate the impact even a day a week with your family can have on your mood and overall health.

Whatever goal you choose to set, make sure that it is manageable and realistic for you. Set short term goals within your long term to allow you to see success on a regular basis.

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