Quality of Life Archives - Charter Home Health

Living Longer with Purpose – The Connection Between the Two

By Kunle Abodunde|2021-10-01T12:49:04-04:00October 26th, 2021|Aging at Home, Family Caregivers, Quality of Life, Senior Health, Senior Issues|

What inspires you to get up out of bed every day? The answer is different for every one of us, of course, however, there is one commonality: it may help you with living a longer life. Research is showing us that having a sense of purpose is an integral factor in longevity, something shown in Japan – the country with the highest life expectancy on earth. Remarkably, there is no word for our definition of “retirement” in the Japanese language. Instead, there is a concentration on maintaining purpose and meaning beyond a person’s working years and defining themselves according to their [...]

Learn the Facts Behind Common Hospice Myths

By Kunle Abodunde|2021-10-01T12:43:22-04:00October 14th, 2021|Alzheimer's, Caregiver Wellness, Dementia Care, Hospice, Quality of Life, Senior Health, Senior Issues|

If you knew that a much better quality of life could be achieved for a loved one, you wouldn’t hesitate to explore that option. Yet one of the most beneficial types of care – hospice care – is one that family members shy away from, because of a number of hospice myths. Hospice is meant to assist someone with a life-limiting illness to find respite from pain and other difficult symptoms, while receiving comfort, spiritual, and emotional support. Hospice care is available 24 hours a day, both for the individual needing care in addition to members of the family. And, for [...]

How Setting a Daily Routine Can Help Seniors

By Kunle Abodunde|2021-09-27T11:32:20-04:00August 26th, 2021|Dementia Care, Quality of Life, Senior Health, Senior Issues, Senior Mental Health|

Life, especially although not just during the pandemic, can be filled with uncertainness. For seniors who are feeling less in command of particular aspects of life, such as losing cognitive or physical functioning, concentrating on exactly what can be controlled is empowering. An excellent place to begin is by setting a daily routine, customized to an older adult's particular interests and needs. Keep in mind the senior’s routine is not intended to be a strict schedule to be adhered to, but merely the foundation for predictability and structure. With the older adult's direction and input, decide on a desired framework for [...]

Avoiding Elderspeak When Talking To Older Adults

By Kunle Abodunde|2021-10-21T12:32:12-04:00August 18th, 2021|Caregiver Wellness, Family Caregivers, Quality of Life, Senior Issues|

Watch what happens at your next family gathering when a brand new mom places her infant in someone else's arms. The person is likely to transition immediately into baby mode: a sing-song, high-pitched voice, exaggerated facial expressions, and overly-simplified speech. Of course, this is perfectly normal and actually beneficial to an infant’s growing brain. Hopefully, when that infant's great-grandfather enters the room, loved ones refrain from reacting similarly. However it happens so often, and can be so detrimental to the elderly, that there is a word to describe this way of talking to older adults: elderspeak. A recent research study by [...]

Nutritious Meal Tips for Seniors with a Loss of Appetite

By Kunle Abodunde|2021-12-09T11:27:48-05:00August 17th, 2020|Quality of Life|

As a person ages, it’s not uncommon for them to start losing their appetite for one reason or another. But when that senior lives alone, a loss of appetite can cause rapid weight loss that quickly places their freedom and independence at risk. If you’re currently caring for an aging in place elderly loved one who’s not interested in eating due to a loss of appetite, try these taste bud-tantalizing meal ideas.

5 Tips to Combat Depression in Seniors

By Kunle Abodunde|2020-03-02T08:00:44-05:00March 2nd, 2020|Quality of Life|

Depression is quite common in seniors and if allowed to persist the physical and emotional toll upon their lives can be devastating. On the positive side, because depression isn’t a normal part of the aging process itself it is a very treatable condition.

The Importance of Keeping Seniors Socially Active

By Kunle Abodunde|2021-10-21T12:27:06-04:00February 17th, 2020|Quality of Life|

If you’re currently looking after an aging in place loved one, knowing how to keep seniors socially active may not be one of your caregiving priorities. But countless studies have shown that it’s vitally important to do so to ensure that your loved one enjoys a better quality of life.

Why Is a Good Exercise Routine So Important for Seniors?

By Kunle Abodunde|2021-12-09T11:30:09-05:00November 18th, 2019|Quality of Life|

Numerous studies have shown that regular exercise benefits people of all ages, including those 65-and-over. Sadly, millions of aging in place elderly Americans don’t exercise like they should, which eventually has a negative effect on their health and wellbeing. On the other hand, seniors who follow a good exercise routine typically enjoy longer, healthier and happier lives.

The Positive Impact of Social Media on Seniors

By Kunle Abodunde|2021-11-22T20:16:37-05:00August 6th, 2019|Quality of Life|

If you’re serving as a caregiver for a homebound senior, showing them how to more effectively use social media is one way to ensure a higher quality-of-life. In fact, sociologists have studied the positive impact of social media on seniors, and here’s what they found.