Category: Home

A person’s old age condition usually differs based on an individual. Some people remain vibrant and active. Others face numerous challenges based on their physical issue and health condition. Whatever the case, every person experiences significant changes as they get older. This creates the need for someone to seek help for their elderly needs. The following are some types of elder care you should consider for you, your loved one, or your friend.

Nursing Homes

Nursing centers or homes are essential long-term care facilities for seniors who entirely depend on caregivers. Accredited nurses are usually present in these facilities to offer 24/7 quality skilled assistance and medical care.

Moreover, some nursing centers offer short-term rehabilitative space for older adults recovering from illness, surgery, or injuries. However, most patients usually have complicated medical issues and high care needs that require full-time care and professional nursing services.

Typically, if you or your loved senior enroll in a nursing home, you can share living areas and take your meals in a common dining space. However, this is exempted for weak patients.

Assisted Living

This type of care is also known as a personal care home. So, you should consider this type of care if you or your loved one cannot live safely on your own, but you are somehow independent that you do not need high care level.

You can find assisted living locations in Minnesota that provide private residential apartments, including small kitchen spaces and have common dining spaces for meals. Moreover, the staff in these facilities offer 24/7 assistance, including meals, housekeeping, medications, and other daily living activities. Assisted living also offers accredited nursing amenities, entertainment, and social events, and planned transportation. These are just a few of the myriad benefits of living in assisted homes.

Bariatric Care

If you or your loved elderly relative is severely overweight, bariatric care is the perfect care to enroll in. Typically, factors such as mobility or other health concerns linked to obesity usually determine your care plan. Apart from individual care, it is essential to determine whether your care needs assisted moving. This is because some individuals seeking this type of care usually require multiple caregivers due to this reason. Moreover, receiving more than one caregiver can boost your comfort and that of the caregivers as you are moved.

Memory Care

It is common for seniors to have memory issues due to various reasons. Most memory care centers usually provide dedicated services for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, some institutions exclusively deal with older adults with impaired memory. This form of care needs 24-hour support and cautiously selected activities that cannot compromise their well-being and safety.

Home Care

Home care services enable seniors to continue enjoying the independence and comfort of remaining in their residences. Caregivers are usually available to offer services such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and other Activities of Daily Living. Besides, they also provide essential daily activities, including and transportation, paying bills, and making appointments.

So, if you or your loved elderly one needs elderly care in a familiar environment, this is an ideal option for you. Moreover, you can opt for caregivers to offer their services during specific times or on a full-time basis.

Senior Independent Living Communities

These facilities are also referred to as congregate care or retirement communities. Independent living communities are suitable for you if you are strong enough with few medical issues and can live independently. Typically, their housings are in the form of apartments that differ in size. If you enroll in this type of care, you will have access to personalized meal packages and several entertainment events and social outings to select from. These facilities usually need private payment plans.

Palliative Care

This is a type of care for a person with severe long-term health problems or untreatable conditions. Palliative care facilities help people with pain management and various care needs for people with severe conditions. People with severe illnesses or terminal conditions may receive hospice care. This is a form of palliative care given to people in their final stage of life. Hospice care aims to fulfill a person’s last wishes in a comfortable manner.

Aging is usually an inevitable stage of life. Most seniors need special care due to their advanced age or various health conditions. Fortunately, you can offer your loved ones the care they need and deserve by enrolling them in various facilities based on their care needs.

Energy allows for the proper function of your household, making it livable and comfortable. However, energy bills can be costly depending on the quality and size of your space, usage patterns, and the surrounding climate.  Other factors affecting your energy are seasonal changes, extra equipment or appliance use, billing rates, and appliance efficiency. Energy rate changes also impact your energy bill. Below are a few ways to lower your energy bill.

1. Use energy-efficient appliances

Energy-efficient appliances are a great way to reduce your energy bills. Besides being environmentally friendly, Energy Star appliances reduce your energy consumption and costs. This is why you should ensure your refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, and dishwashers are Energy Star certified. You can also do your laundry in cold water and air dry.

Consider using the smart settings on your dishwasher, like turning off the heat boost and air drying your dishes. Additionally, keeping your freezer and refrigerator full can also reduce energy consumption.

2. Rethink your lighting

Lighting is an easy way to save energy while ensuring your home is well-lit and comfortable. Consider switching to more energy-efficient lighting like LED and installing lighting controls such as occupancy sensors, dimmers, and timers. For your outdoor lighting, consider using photocell technology or motion sensors. You can also take advantage of natural lighting whenever possible to save energy.

3. Focus on heating and cooling costs

Cooling and heating your home contribute a significant amount to the energy bill. However, you can lower your heating and cooling costs by investing in an energy-efficient central air conditioning unit and installing a programmable thermostat to reduce air conditioning whenever you don’t need it.

Consider installing a ceiling fan and insulating your home to save energy throughout the year by keeping the house warmer in winter and cooler during summer. Use weatherstripping to seal leaks, reducing drafts and energy costs. Change your air filters to keep the furnace functioning optimally. Consider sealing and insulating your HVAC’s ductwork to boost its efficiency. You can also install energy-efficient windows to reduce energy usage, saving costs.

4. Reduce water heating costs

Water heating takes about 18% of your home’s overall energy usage. To save money and energy, consider resetting your thermostat to 120 degrees. Reduce hot water usage and insulate your piping and water heaters to keep in the heat. Consider replacing your water heaters with more energy-efficient ones to save costs and preserve energy. Additionally, you can switch to using solar water heaters to cost-effectively generate hot water for your household, reducing the energy bill.

5. Get rid of phantom loads

Phantom loads refer to the power your electronics consume after turning them off. Plugging all your electronic devices into a power strip will help eliminate these phantom loads. Once you’re done using your electronics, unplugging the power strip shuts off power to the devices, reducing energy usage and costs.

6. Pay attention to the roof

Using a reflective roofing material such as white or painting your roof white causes the sun to reflect off it, cooling your home. You may also install a green roof as it acts as insulation for absorbing heat from the sun and keeping in warmth in winter, reducing energy usage and saving costs.

Endnote

Saving on energy bills requires you to be intentional and conscious about it. Consider using the above tips to lower your energy costs. 

We all know what it’s like to be simultaneously looking forward to the holiday season and also dreading all of the stress that comes along with it. You’re not alone if the holidays stress you out; tons of people suffer not only from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the stress of planning for big holidays compounds on top of that. Thankfully there are ways to minimize your stress levels during this hectic time of year, so you can focus on what matters most – and that’s spending time making precious memories with your children and other loved ones. Let’s dive into how to get that done so you can have not only a happy but a calm holiday season this year. 

Recognize The Realities 

Right off the bat, one of the easiest things you can do to simplify your holiday stress levels is recognizing that some of the negative stress is expected, and some of it is even positive stress. Some people thrive under deadlines and workloads, so if you have a little bit of that in you, expand on it and get things done! After all, as mothers, we’re used to juggling many balls at once, so embrace the season and its ups and downs. And remember, the outcome is priceless as we get to see the joy on our kid’s faces, we have memories we will cherish for a lifetime, and we get to eat all that delicious food we’re cooking, too! If you can recognize that things will get hectic as soon as Halloween is over and will stay somewhat chaotic until New Year is an easy way to try and go with the crazy flow!

Give Gifts Differently 

Another area to take a load off yourself is taking a look at giving gifts differently this year than you may be used to. Instead of spending a small fortune on each child and all the things they’ve been asking for, try to pare it down. Consider giving experiences over physical gifts. For example, you could travel with kids to a place they’ve never been to.  Or you could try gifting the kids one item they want, one thing they need, something to wear, and something to read. Christmas doesn’t always invoke the spirit of minimalism, but it’s worth considering if you want to take some of the last-minute running around and shopping off your plate. When it comes to buying for other adults in your life, you could talk to them and see if you all want to forego gifts this year. If you still want to shop for other adults, keep it simple with consumables like wine or subscriptions to services they would use. 

Do You Need All That Decor?

One thing that not only takes a lot of money but additionally a ton of your time during the holiday season is all the decorating you do. While it’s essential to think of fun, creative and eco-friendly ways to decorate for the holidays (after all, your kids love it), do you need to go all out on every room and table? Not only does it take a lot of time to set up, think of all the time spent taking it down! So, while, of course, you don’t want to skip out on carving pumpkins and trimming a Christmas tree, rethink how much decorating you need to make things fun and festive. 

Guard Your Mental Health 

One of the most important things that will keep the holidays calm and happy is if you guard your emotional well-being during this time. You can do this through simple things like making sure you get enough rest and eating a healthy diet. Of course, you’re going to indulge in the sweet treats all around you, but making sure the rest of your meals and snacks are nutritious and balanced is critical. Another way to protect your mental health is being picky about parties. That’s right, and you don’t have to RSVP “yes” to every event you’re invited to. And, when it comes to hosting and planning your events, keep things simple – people are there to see you and your family and create memories, don’t add stress by trying to throw a party with too many unnecessary details.

The holidays are a magical time of year, but when you think about why, it’s for the simpler reasons – twinkling lights, hot cocoa, seeing snowfall. Try to remember the beauty and simplicity of the season as you implement the above tips. Happy Holidays!

It is nearly impossible to pay back our parents for everything they have done for us. The sacrifices they made helped run not only society but also shape the lives of all around them. However, as they age, once strong and capable men and women become fragile and require personalized care. This reality necessitates searching for an alternative living solution to cater to their medical, physiological, and psychological needs. Statistics today show approximately 1.4 million individuals in nursing, assisted, and independent living nursing institutions. Moreover, the senior care industry earned $976.2 billion in the year 2020 alone. Since the services offered created a profitable business opportunity, it is imperative to identify traits that distinguish technologically advanced quality homes from substandard care institutes.

Look for senior living facilities utilizing the latest software designed to improve resident engagement and the patient experience. For example, today’s market has centers that cater to chronic ailments such as orthopedic, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular conditions that affect the elderly in society. Essentially, one has to ascertain the home’s ability to accommodate a client’s medical needs. Typically, this quality can be tested by how well equipped the nursing home is. For example, most institutions offer mobile medical equipment used when providing assistive care or patient transport. However, there is a need for adequate provision of oxygen tanks, medication, gurney alongside medically trained staff certified by the state and federal healthcare bodies. In addition, the ideal homes tend to have modernized devices such as wrist bands that aid in monitoring the client’s movements, heart rate, level of activity, and diet. These gadgets also offer alerts on any abnormal break-in pattern in the care regimen or treatment option selected. Therefore, one has to seek out the available medical equipment to ensure effective treatment for elderly patients.

The wheelchair has also advanced to integrate technology for effective senior care. Nurse attendants use these mobile medical tools to ferry people from one place to another within a nursing home. However, as technology progresses, the chairs are now equipped with monitoring software that furthers telemedicine to implement more specific medical interventions. This device can be seamlessly introduced into home-based care. The sophisticated chair uses biosensors to monitor and measure vitals such as blood pressure, electrocardiogram levels, temperature, heart auscultations, blood oxygen levels, and breathing. Furthermore, it can evaluate the patient’s diet through monitoring food intake and medication regimens. Though this option is reserved for elderly patients in need of intensive care, it can be applied to any individual to deliver personalized attention.

Senior citizen homes should also have advanced monitoring systems which track the client’s movements. Most people are against camera surveillance over privacy concerns. However, some institutions offer discreet sensors that record and track individuals along with their daily routines. These gadgets are placed at different positions within the nursing home, alerting personnel to any anomaly detected. The integration of sensors also provides a platform for two-way video conferencing between the residing attendants and their patients. This advanced cellular technology enables seamless interaction, monitoring, and evaluation to necessitate any treatment plan or medication change.

Nursing homes should also have automated drug dispensing services. Technology has exponentially advanced this activity by creating intelligent medication solutions through telemedicine and software integrated into a pillbox. These tools are connected to the internet, which allows them to send reports to the physician and patient on medication routine appropriate for the client. This avenue works through alerts and warnings on non-compliance to reduce non-adherence levels among elderly patients. Some institutions also have dispensers that provide pre-packaged medication at the selected interval pointed out in the treatment plan. These pouches follow a designated pattern that alerts the client and the attending physician when the pattern is broken. Therefore, these alternatives streamline medical attention and drug adherence through technology.

In conclusion, geriatric care has received significant assistance from technology. Clients looking for a good nursing home looked only for activities, diet preparation, comfort, services, hygiene levels, and a welcome policy for all who desire to visit. However, technological advances now provide patients with privacy by eliminating cameras and unnecessary monitoring. Additionally, integrating sensors into wheelchairs and medical wristbands enables medical assessment, thereby minimizing the risk of medical negligence or fatigue from attendants. These qualities are crucial for a senior living facility. Finally, technology gives the patient control over their surroundings and creates an open communication channel to the physicians within the home and the world outside the walls.