Leslie Newlife

Retirement Fears and How to Prepare for Them

Retirement is a drastic change to any individual’s lifestyle. There are many who find meaning in the work that they do, and for those who have built their entire lives around their career, a sudden retirement may feel akin to a break-up.

Like many drastic changes, people who are heading into retirement are going to have many doubts, especially when many of their habits and routines are suddenly uprooted. In this article, we take a look at some of the top fears surrounding retirement, and how we can overcome them.

Loss of Income and Social Security

The most common fear most retirees experience is outliving their income, or worse, outliving their hard-earned savings. What makes this fear more intense is that there is an age bias in the workplace. Losing your source of income is one thing, but knowing that you’re going to have difficulty finding work again is another. Coupling this with the chance that your medical bill costs might rise as you age is bound to put a huge black cloud of worry over any retiree’s head.

While there was once a time when losing your social security during retirement would have been the stuff of myths, times have definitely changed since then. There’s news about the looming threat of pension plans going bankrupt, which means that you might not receive the benefits you were promised. 

The Antidote:

Face your fear. It’s important to get an accurate bearing of your situation and to make a retirement plan in order to safely prepare for when the day comes. You could work with a financial advisor to help you plan out your retirement. As a last resort, you can even consider working with a real estate financial auditor to determine the accurate value of your home should you decide to sell it. This doesn’t mean you’re going to be homeless; selling your home can provide you more money to work with just in case you lose your social security upon retirement.

Degradation of Health

The body gradually begins to weaken after a certain age. Both physical and mental health are bound to be impacted as retirement nears. This is especially true if you don’t have a healthy lifestyle to begin with, but the importance of self-care cannot be stressed enough during this stage. 

The Antidote:

Exercise regularly, go for medical check-ups, adapt to a healthier diet, and find hobbies and activities that make you happy. 

Empty Nest Syndrome

Contrary to popular belief, empty nest syndrome is not a disorder of any kind, but rather, it is a period that older adults go through. It is a highlight of loneliness and pain of loss that older adults experience when their children leave the home they grew up in and start relationships of their own.

The Antidote:

As painful as it may seem, empty nest syndrome has a rather simple solution. Stay in contact with your children. Invite them over for visits, and try to look on the bright side. Your kids may eventually have grandchildren, who would be a joy to have over at your home. 

As Epictetus once wrote: “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” With this in mind, retirees should try to pierce the veil of fear that clouds their judgment and paralyzes them. Fear is only a byproduct of being unprepared for an event. Any fear can be overcome through preparation and planning. With this in mind, stop worrying, and start preparing.

How to Improve Your Daily Life as an Older Adult

Life can become challenging with age, especially when physical limitations affect your ability to get out into the world. But that does not mean your life must be stagnant. Here is how to improve your daily life as an older adult.

Engage Your Body and Brain

With age, your mental and physical acuity will fade. However, your intentionality toward physical exercise and mental stimulation can maintain your capacities over time. Try to go out for a walk each day and perform other physical activities to strengthen your muscles. The simple act of exercising will keep your body stronger than if you only sit or lay down throughout the day. However, it is no secret that physical limitations exist, so don’t overextend yourself—only exercise as you are comfortable and able. You can also improve your mental sharpness with crossword puzzles, sudoku, brainteasers, and other puzzling activities. These will keep you on your toes and learning new things. Also, keep up reading as your eyes allow so that you continue to stimulate your brain with fresh ideas and stories.

Have a Daily Routine

Though it may sound counterintuitive to spice up your day by implementing a routine, this is a critical part of life as an older adult. Your physical limitations, aches, or other feelings may inhibit you from pushing yourself to do exercises, interact with others, or visit family and friends. The reality is that the importance of daily routines for seniors is incontrovertible. When you are accountable to yourself or a friend to get out of bed in the morning and complete a list of tasks throughout your day, you are more likely to have vigor, focus, and determination in your day-to-day life.

Find Ways To Help Others

The world is full of people in need and people who pass them by. As an older adult who is either in or entering retirement, you have ample time on your hands and wisdom to impart that can allow you to really make a difference in others’ lives. Seek out ways to help those who need it and meet their problems with your capacities. Consider volunteering at food banks or serving meals at homeless shelters. If you have limited mobility, think about writing letters to people in prison or volunteering at call centers for mental health needs. By serving and helping others, you will find purpose in your life beyond yourself and build a legacy in the community.

With these tips for how to improve your daily life as an older adult, you can begin this stage of life with focus and determination. Encourage others to join you in your journey toward routine and continue learning something new every day.

An Infographic Guide to Senior Care Options

Are you looking at long-term care options for yourself or a loved one? You’re not alone; in fact, data suggests seven out of ten people will require some form of long-term care in their life. There are actually five types of long-term care that offer a wide array of different services at varying price points.Depending on your unique needs, you may find that you only require a less intensive form of care such as adult daycare which costs about $20,000 a year and provides services including housekeeping, meal preparation, and assistance with activities of daily living such as using the bathroom, getting dressed, and bathing. For more intensive needs, you may be looking for a nursing home that can cost anywhere from $89,000 – $100,000 a year and offers 24-hour emergency care among other services. These represent the low and high ends of the care options, but there are several types of care that fall between in terms of costs and services offered.Even if you don’t need care now, having an understanding of these options can help you prepare in case the need ever arises. You don’t want to be caught off guard by something that can costs so much each year. Learn more about the different types of long-term care by checking out this infographic from Harbor Life Settlements which breaks down costs, services, and ways to pay for these types of care.

How to Help Families Feel Better About Assisted Living

One of the hardest parts of working with seniors is seeing how hard it is for adult children to move their parents into assisted living. Many of them experience a mixture of emotions that include worry, guilt, and uncertainty. They know it’s the right decision, but it’s difficult to see their loved one give up some measure of independence. You can’t take away their pain, but you can figure out how to help families feel better about assisted living while they transition to a new reality.

All these ideas offer chances to bond, but depending on the senior’s health—and the state of the world—it may not be in person. All these tips are just as effective via phone calls, video calls, care packages, and socially distant visits when possible. Their physical safety is just as important as their emotional adjustment.

Turn To Technology

Everyone loves a new gadget, as long as it’s not too complicated. Tell families about the latest technology that can help with their loved one’s care—both for that person’s safety and their ability to feel connected to the outside world. Large-screen visuals like video conferencing make the connection feel more human than a phone call can. There are endless improvements for protecting seniors, so show them how a digital pill dispenser can prevent mistakes. Little things can give families more peace of mind. Many of the newest innovations prioritize voice activation, so seniors can take advantage of the new technology without feeling intimidated.

Give Them Some Structure

Make sure they utilize any community programming together by helping them put together a schedule and a calendar. Families can feel part of their grandparents’ day-to-day lives when they know what they’re doing. Help them schedule weekly plans together so that too much time doesn’t go by between check-ins. When it’s safe for kids to visit, there are plenty of activities to keep them active while they get to know the older generation. Ask about what their loved one liked to do in their former home so that you can include those hobbies in the schedule, too. Adjusting to assisted living means holding onto beloved traditions as they create new ones, and you can show them how.

Make Their Home Their Own

A new living space can feel scary, but it’s also a fresh start. Suggest that families get involved in decorating their loved one’s new surroundings. The transition is easier with a balance between familiar objects with meaning and updated touches for the future. A resident will relax with their own bed linens but will appreciate the comfort and benefits of an upgraded mattress. Help plan a shopping outing for new appliances that will improve their daily routines. Introduce them to neighbors who can share how they make their places homey. Ask families for the meaning behind some of the keepsakes displayed, and then have the senior expand on the stories. The best theories of how to help families feel better about assisted living emphasize the possibilities ahead while respecting where they came from.

Why Seniors Should Play Crossword Puzzles

Have you ever wondered why simple activities can be full of fun?  Exploring a crossword dictionary is a perfect example of fun. The best part is crossword puzzles are enjoyable for all age groups, and even seniors find these puzzles a worthwhile activity to pass the time.

When we age, we focus on our physical health, but we need to focus on our mental health too. For keeping the mind active, we need to engage in brainstorming. There can be nothing more entertaining for the mind than the crossword clues and puzzle.

Let us explore the benefits crossword puzzles have for the elderly.

Benefits of crossword puzzles for the elderly

Helps boost your memory

When you do a crossword puzzle, it gives you a nostalgia boost. There is no denying the fact that nostalgia can play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the brain. What happens is that when we try connecting with our past, it strengthens the neural connections.

Words are quite powerful. When we search for a particular word in our memory, we go back in time. Whenever you are looking for a word, you often associate it with a particular event or person. As a result, what you experience at the end of the day is memory boost.

Gives you a reason to socialize

When we reach old age, socialization can tend to decrease, but we still yearn to interact with people around us. Crossword puzzles can give you a fun reason to engage with friends and other individuals and experience the joy and satisfaction of solving problems together.

Facilitates in achieving a stress-free environment

Aging brings its own stresses. The problematic part is that stress is not healthy, especially for seniors. When you play games like crossword puzzles, it helps to break free from the stressful chain. Your mind tends to relax, helping you feel better. You can even use a word scrambler tool to help you solve the crossword puzzles.

The crucial aspect is that our learning should not stop at any age. When seniors play crosswords, it helps to develop and expand their vocabulary, giving them a sense of accomplishment.

Another benefit of crossword puzzles is that such games protect your aging brain. When people have high cognitive engagement, it helps in preventing the deposition of beta-amyloid. As a result, the progression of Alzheimer’s disease can be halted.

If you want to lead a healthy life, then participate in activities that make you happy. Invest time in playing crossword puzzles to help you feel younger, more revitalized, and more fulfilled.

Events to Hold at Your Senior Care Facility

Holding events is a great way to involve your residents in their senior care community, plus they can act as a promotional tool for administrators. Private events allow residents to feel like a part of a larger community, build new friendships, and develop interests in new hobbies. You can then advertise these events to pique the interest of potential new residents, or your senior care facility can hold public events to increase local community outreach.

Here are a few examples of events to hold at your senior care facility.

A Car Show

For your residents with a passion for classic, antique, or vintage cars, bring the cars to them with a parking lot car show. Since you must hold this event outside, it’s a relatively safe option that will still allow you to maintain social distance. You can even utilize a car show as a public event for fundraising and spreading your senior care facility’s message to the community. You may even collect some leads from interested parties.

A Holiday Party

Holidays can be difficult for residents who don’t have much family around. Spread the holiday spirit by hosting a Thanksgiving dinner or a Christmas movie marathon throughout December.

A Speaking Series

Hosting a speaking series on various topics is a great event to hold at your senior care facility. Look for speakers who will discuss topics your residents may be interested in, including physical health, financial stability, or family-related topics.

Hosting a speaker is also a great way to draw in your target audience from the community. Open your event up to the public to signify your facility as a resource for local seniors. As with any other event, make sure to follow social distancing guidelines when opening events to the public and cap off the audience for speaking events per the appropriate gathering restrictions.

Art Classes

As with the previously listed events, art classes can give your residents something new and exciting to do and can draw in local community members at the same time. You can even host art classes through Zoom to keep residents and community members safe.

How Caregivers Can Improve Quality of Life of Seniors

As people age and develop chronic health conditions, the quality of life begins to decline. One of the reasons for it is increased social isolation and loneliness. Everyone involved in the care of seniors and older adults must do everything to help improve the quality of life of seniors despite their prevailing health conditions. This is well and truly achievable and done right, has a capacity to lengthen the days of the senior and causes better satisfaction. In this article, we will look at specific ways by which caregivers can help to improve the quality of life of seniors.

Five Ways to Improve the Quality of Life of Seniors

Very small gestures can make all the difference in the lives of people as they age. Caregivers and family members should consider taking the following small steps as ways to improve the quality of life of seniors.

1. Plan activities: 

Using an activity calendar, you can plan and schedule activities for seniors. The calendar serves as a guide and helps to keep track of activities that can be done by the senior. These activities should be targeted at both improving physical health and mental health.

Improved physical and mental health has been correlated with an improved quality of life which will in return further improve the state of health. Regular physical activity, exercises, games, arts and crafts etc are all examples of activities that can be done either individually or as a group by the senior.

 2. Encourage interaction: 

Social isolation is a real problem that can severely impact on the quality of life of seniors. It increases the risk of depression, dementia and generally decreases mental health. Interaction on the other hand will help improve quality of life.

Thus, encouraging interaction is a good way to ensure that the quality of life of seniors is maintained. You can do this by planning family outings, in-house parties, reunions, getting the seniors to volunteer and sometimes even taking the senior to an adult daycare center.

 3. Help them feel relevant: 

No matter the age, everyone likes being needed and certainly, everyone loves being useful. When you continue to assign tasks to seniors no matter how easy, it makes them feel like they are still sharing the burden with you.

Ensure that the tasks you assign to them can be easily done so that in addition to the elation of being involved, they can enjoy the satisfaction and fulfilment that comes with finishing a task successfully.

 4. Consider Adult Day Care: 

Adult daycare centers are non-residential facilities where you can take your seniors and older adults when you are not available to take care of them. These centers are usually equipped to provide transitional care, short term rehabilitation, provide education, improve interaction and also provide a fun place. This will invariably help in reducing the risk of loneliness and social isolation for seniors who visit such a center.

 5. Maximize Technology: 

The internet affords us a unique opportunity to stay local while relating globally. Getting an elderly one a device with internet access, and teaching them how to use it can help seniors stay in touch with their friends and loved ones no matter the distance. These gadgets also come with games that can be played to keep the brain active as well as other functions that can prevent isolation in its entirety.

Conclusion

Living long is good. Certainly, living long and well is better. As you watch over the physical and mental health of your seniors, also do something to ensure that their quality of life does not decline but rather improves even in the presence of contrarian health challenges.

Common Health Concerns for Seniors and How to Prevent Them

When it comes to keeping track of one’s overall health, it’s widely known that seniors have the most trouble doing so. This is because the body’s natural ability to heal slows down as we age, and it becomes increasingly easy to develop very severe ailments. As such, knowing what you can potentially expect ahead of time is crucial to making the necessary lifestyle changes while you still can. These are some common health concerns for seniors and what you can do now to mitigate your symptoms later.

Cognitive Deterioration

Mental decline is one of the most devastating things that can happen to us as we age. From lapses in memory to difficulty solving problems, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain our same level of thinking during our later years. Because of this, it’s vital that you remain aware of the signs you may be developing Alzheimer’s or dementia, and keep your brain active with daily puzzles and complex activities. Fortunately, basic mental processes like memory can be improved in several ways.

Development of COPD

Respiratory conditions are also a common health concern for seniors, as they’re quicker to worsen without the proper treatment. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is one such ailment that’s more likely to develop in those over 50 years old. It’s also among the leading causes of a decline in your overall physical wellness, as it can prevent you from getting oxygen into your lungs effectively. So, to keep yourself breathing freely, it’s important that you frequently monitor your oxygen saturation and check for abnormalities.

Vision or Hearing Loss

Just how cognitive deterioration can happen over time, seniors tend to slowly lose their hearing and seeing abilities as well. This occurs as a result of cataracts forming over the eyes and even cellular damage within the ears. Both of these conditions prevent these organs from sending proper signals to the brain, making it harder for it to interpret your surroundings. So, to help mitigate this loss, make sure you aren’t exposing your senses to intense sights or sounds.

For additional help managing the onset of these conditions, you can also reach out to a quality senior health or assisted living facility. These professionals have extensive experience working with older individuals and know all there is about tracking your overall well-being.

6 Qualities to Look for in a Good Senior Healthcare Nurse

Like many other mainstream organizations and corporations, senior centers also encounter difficulties in recruiting the right talent. Despite an influx of potential job seekers, not all will fit the bill. Unfortunately, attracting recruits that meet the organizational and regulatory requirements has always posed a challenge for talent acquisition leaders of all sorts.

Because a skilled nursing center’s demographics consist of highly vulnerable populations, it’s prudent that employees working in these facilities meet the expected criteria. Failure to properly screen candidates could result in life-threatening errors that physically impair these senior citizens. With these high stakes in mind, what qualities should you look for when filling a senior care nursing position?

Nurses are one of the most critical employees in a senior care center. Healthcare staffing agencies like Fusion Medical Staffing recruit nurses for skilled nursing positions and ensure employer satisfaction with the recruits’ performance. Fusion Medical Staffing fulfills both long-term or short-term employment needs and works to connect aspiring medical travelers with worldwide opportunities.

Whether you’re establishing a list of criteria to reference when interviewing applicants or looking to identify the qualities these employers scout for, read on for more insight into the qualifications of a reliable senior healthcare center nurse.

Creativity

Since the needs of the elderly are becoming increasingly complex, a proactive nurse is vital. They anticipate problems in advance and utilize their problem-solving skills to provide solutions.

Creative and adaptable nurses with the ability to think on their feet are invaluable resources to the average senior center. As these elderly folks age, their mental dexterity declines, necessitating mentally-stimulating activities. When looking for a qualified senior care center nursing candidate, scour your candidate pool for nurses that understand the importance of uplifting daily activities.

Unfortunately, physical impairments and health restrictions can render these senior citizens immobile, forcing them into a state of inactivity. A creative nurse will engage with his or her elderly patients and suggest fun activities that re-energize their minds without physically straining their bodies. High-energy nurses can encourage these patients to maintain active lifestyles despite their limitations.

Passion

A passion for the healthcare sector is vital in any senior care center nursing candidate. Avoid applicants that are only interested in the generous financial compensation of the healthcare industry. To hire a reliable employee, search for candidates with a genuine interest in helping others overcome their physical and mental limitations, regain a sense of independence, and lead fulfilling lives.

The attitude of a passionate nurse is infectious. When a patient interacts with a high-energy and optimistic senior center nurse, they’ll admire the positivity and enthusiasm and look to adopt this attitude in their daily lives.

Compassion and empathy

A nurse who’s willing to step into the shoes of the individual they’re caring for is an asset to any senior healthcare center. After all, seniors need attentive emotional, mental, and physical care. Having a nurse who understands and relates to their struggles and current predicaments is critical.

Unfortunately, elder abuse is devastatingly prevalent. By definition, elder abuse is an isolated situation or repeated offenses in which an individual intentionally inflicts harm to or exploits a senior citizen in their care. Care teams can perpetuate elder abuse in emotional, physical, and mental forms. Whichever the case, these instances are incredibly disheartening and a worst-case scenario in any senior center.

Carefully screening candidates and recruiting the right caregivers could minimize the elder abuse risk in your senior center facility. If you suspect that an applicant might neglect or deceive a patient admitted to your senior healthcare center, rule them out immediately.

Good communicator

It’s in your best interest to choose a nurse who can communicate effectively with the elderly folks they attend to. Excellent and refined communication skills can help nurses build relationships with their patients and solidify trust with the seniors in their care.

Again, a nurse who communicates vital details regarding the residents’ state is valuable in improving service delivery. A lack of transparency can cause a patient unnecessary and distress that can inhibit recovery.

Patience

There are many hurdles a nurse will have to clear in the caregiving industry. Because day-to-day responsibilities are unpredictable, you’ll need to recruit a nurse who maintains a sense of patience, even in the most trying situations.

Seniors, like other patients under care, can be stubborn and uncooperative. An impatient nurse will not handle these circumstances with positivity and may lash out, alarming the patient in question.

Dedication

Caring for seniors is physically and mentally demanding. After a long day of caring for these high-risk senior citizens, a nurse may have to tend to their young children, prepare meals, and care for household pets. With this chaotic schedule in mind, you’ll need to hire a nurse that‘s dependable when called upon and willing to balance highly-involved work and personal responsibilities.

Final thoughts

In addition to the above traits, hiring managers should conduct a comprehensive background search to determine the candidate’s aptness. Although background screening won’t reveal characteristics such as integrity, compassion, and commitment, it’s a pivotal step in determining the employee’s experience and suitability for the job at hand.

4 Important Questions for Any Family with an Elderly Person

The moment where children become the caregivers rather than just ‘the kids’ can happen at any time. Being prepared for this can help soften the blow and limit any negative repercussions. Below you’ll find a few vital questions you would do well to ask yourself and your extended family to better prepare for the future.

What Legacy Is There to Leave?

All too often, a family member passes away and the family realizes how little they knew about the individual’s life. a mass of knowledge, experience and memories is then lost to time. Some grandparents may not want to bother the younger generations with their stories, but these can be extremely valuable.

Sharing these experiences can also add value to seniors’ later years, knowing that they’re leaving behind a legacy. Why not organize a special day where family members ask questions like:

  • Describe the best moment of your life
  • How did technology impact you?
  • Name the top five life tips you wish you could give your younger self
  • What was your proudest moment?
  • What do you hope people will remember about you?
  • Describe school, fashion and hobbies from your youth.

Use these insights to compile a short biography of their life, which is something you can pass on to younger generations.

Who Will Sign Off On Legal Matters?

The possibility of an individual no longer being able to make decisions is an unfortunate reality. Even before there are any signs of dementia or other cognitive dysfunction, talk to seniors in your family about a power of attorney. This can cover legal, medical or financial matters.

Discuss an arrangement and a lawyer can draw up an agreement that suits your situation, so caregiving children can step in whenever it becomes necessary.

Can You Really Be a Caretaker?

This question applies to both elderly individuals and their children. Elderly individuals must realize when it becomes time to relinquish control of their lives to someone else. This doesn’t always have to be their children, especially if the younger families don’t have the resources, space, finances or time to effectively care for them. This is where quality care homes become valuable resources. Look for professional staffing agencies that partner with companies like Diligence International Group to run background checks on prospective employees.

Is There a Will In Place?

Surprisingly, statistics show that 40% of people in their 50’s and 60’s may not yet have a will. This may cause problems for those left behind when an elderly parent passes away. The division of assets can cause family feuds, or lead to situations where the family must adhere to state guidelines about how the property is dealt with, rather than the personal wishes of the deceased. It can be traumatic to think about the reality of a loved one’s passing, but it’s essential you make sure a will is in place. Have the conversation for everyone’s benefit.

Final Words

It may be difficult to ask these questions, but in hindsight, you’ll be glad you did it. Take action now to pave the way for a better future for everyone in your family.