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As seniors get older, they often believe they don’t have to exercise as much, or they are afraid of falling while doing so. However, it’s critical to continue exercising in some form to continue healthy senior living and maintain great heart health and avoid a reduction in muscle mass.

According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, by age 75, roughly one of every two women and one of every three men will be largely inactive, and reduced physical activity can directly lead to loss of stamina and strength. Continuing to exercise even as the weather gets cooler is critical, and here’s why.

Your Heart Works Harder When You’re Inactive

A person’s resting heart rate largely remains the same throughout their life. However, as they get older and become more inactive, the resting heart rate can increase and work harder than it should consistently. Continuing to participate in physical activity can keep your resting heart rate as low as possible, so it won’t have to work as hard when you aren’t active. Protecting your heart is critical as you get older, and engaging in as much physical activity as you can is one of the most ideal ways to do it.

Maintain Muscle Mass

A natural part of aging involves losing some muscle strength and mass over time. However, if exercise is not part of your senior living regimen, then you’ll likely lose more muscle strength and mass than those who participate in some sort of physical activity regularly. Inactivity speeds up the process of muscle loss as well, and can even expedite conditions like osteoporosis.

If seniors have not been participating in many exercises as they’ve gotten older, it’s not too late to start building up muscle mass again. Doing so can increase strength and stability and potentially reduce the risk of falling and getting injured.

What Exercises Are Ideal To Engage In?

Physical exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous for seniors to remain healthy. If you’re providing senior care to a loved one, make sure they are set up in their home to do some physical activity when it gets cold outside. Having open space big enough to stretch or do some resistance training exercises can encourage more activity. Balance exercises can also be beneficial to strengthen the legs, core, and other important muscles. Even if a senior is unable to walk outside due to colder temperatures, physical activity should be maintained inside the home.

Need Help Continuing Senior Exercise as the Weather Changes?

Next Day Access can help make exercising for seniors easier, even as the weather turns colder. We offer a wide variety of mobility products that can help make navigating the home easier, like a stair lift, a lift chair, a wheelchair ramp, a threshold ramp, and many more. Independent senior living may mean making some home modifications to make mobility simpler and safer. As we transition into cooler outdoor temperatures, contact us at any time if your home could use some updates and you need some advice.

The holiday season is meant to be a relaxing time to enjoy good food and fellowship with friends and relatives. If you don’t get to see your aging parent’s home too often, the holidays present a great opportunity to visit them and see how they are doing with independent living. Take a close look at their living situation to see if any modifications need to be made, check on their overall health, and engage in positive conversations about the future to make the most of your visit.

Look At Their Living Situation

A senior striving for independent living may need some assistance with home modifications. While you’re at your aging parent’s home, evaluate their living situation and make note of what could be improved. Look at everything from cluttered living spaces to slippery bath rugs and how the overall open space is in the home. Feel free to ask them about any observations you make and see if they indicate anything else has been problematic for them. It’s simple enough to go buy new rugs or install a few grab bars while you’re visiting, and it could make a world of difference for their independent living efforts.

Check On Their Emotional, Mental, And Physical Health

Make it a point at least every holiday season to check on your aging parent’s emotional, mental, and physical health. When you do this annually, you can make notes of any changes in their attitude or overall perspective on life and intervene when you believe it is necessary to do so. Sometimes an aging parent simply needs to talk things through with you, even if it’s uncomfortable. And if you notice their actions have changed in recent years or months, it may be time to have a conversation with them to point out your observations and try to find the source.

Speak Positively About The Future

There’s enough negativity in the world today just by reading or watching the news. Speaking about current events is easy to do at holiday gatherings, but focus positively on the future this holiday season. Talk to an aging parent about their future plans, including whether they want to continue independent living as long as they can, whether they want you to take care of them at their home, and what they want to do for the rest of their life. These are conversations people generally don’t have with their aging parent, but chances are they will appreciate the thoughtfulness, and it can get their mind off of other things.

Next Day Access is here to help make home modifications for seniors whenever they need it. Whether you know modifications should be made before the holiday season or if you want to wait until afterward, we are ready to serve you. And if you know your aging parent needs some help around the house, but aren’t sure what would be most beneficial, we would be happy to provide a free home assessment and present various options. Don’t hesitate to contact us at any time to learn more.

The fall season can be particularly difficult for seniors. They may have gotten used to the warm temperatures, and their bodies don’t react as well to cooler temperatures. This can often lead to them staying inside, reducing physical activity, isolating themselves, and other things that could hurt their independent living efforts. As a caregiver, keeping your senior loved one active mentally and physically can help them remain healthy throughout the fall season. Here are some caregiver tips and ideas to consider for fun activities this fall.

Homemade Decorations

Making homemade decorations can be a great way to keep the mind stimulated and engage in creative activities. The fall season brings plenty of opportunities to create new decorations depending on the holidays and occasions you celebrate. Start with small decorations that could be hung on the wall, then focus on bigger decorations for the outdoors. Your senior loved one may experience a sense of satisfaction when they look around their home and see all of the great decors they created.

Brush Up On Cooking Skills

Cooking can be a fun activity for a senior to participate in, and you can engage in the activity with them. Get creative with the dishes you make and incorporate various healthy foods in every meal. If your senior loved one has a habit of making a lot of food and eating leftovers for the week, consider suggesting that they cook every night, so they have something to look forward to every day. This can also help promote creativity in every dish they make.

Prepare To Have Guests Over

If your senior loved one is planning on having guests over during the holidays, start preparing the home early. You may be thriving with independent living in your home, but if guests require mobility assistance, then you can evaluate your home and make adjustments. A temporary wheelchair ramp can be installed, as well as a stair lift and other products. They may feel a great sense of accomplishment when they realize they have taken all of their guests’ needs into consideration.

Enjoy The Scenery And Cool Air

Finally, the fall season brings cooler air and beautiful foliage on trees. Take the time to go on a walk and enjoy the scenery. If walking is challenging due to mobility limitations, then you can rent or purchase a mobility scooter for your senior loved one so they can enjoy the great outdoors. Sometimes getting out of the house and enjoying the little things in life can go a long way in improving mental and emotional health.

Next Day Access wants to help seniors practicing independent living feel as comfortable as possible in their home. Participating in activities is a great way to ensure seniors remain active, but they sometimes need some help moving around also. Our mobility products are designed to make every home more accessible, so seniors with limited mobility can enjoy theirs. Don’t hesitate to contact us at any time to see how we can help prepare your home this fall.

If you are a middle-aged adult that has a home to tend to and also takes care of an aging parent, you are considered to be a part of the sandwich generation. People in their 40s and 50s tend to make up this generation, and many of them have to take care of both kids and parents. Providing senior care can be a full-time job of its own depending on how much care your aging parent needs. We’ve taken a closer look at the characteristics of the sandwich generation, what common problems they face, and how to make it a positive experience.

Characteristics Of The Sandwich Generation

The ages of the sandwich generation can vary, including the age of the kids and the age of the parents. Most people are married with kids, and some of those kids may even be adults over the age of 18. And on top of the responsibilities they have to juggle with being a caregiver and a parent, they usually have a full-time job as well. Caring for an aging parent can be a life-changing event, but the challenges can be overcome when you know what to expect. 

Problems The Sandwich Generation Face

What stresses most people out who are part of the sandwich generation is trying to please everyone who relies on them. Time management is critical even though it may seem like you need more than 24 hours in a day. What makes for a more fulfilling experience for the sandwich generation is living in the moment as much as possible. This means when you’re caring for your parent, give them all the attention they need and try not to think about the other things you need to be doing. The same goes for your job and giving attention to your kids. Managing your time will make these moments more fulfilling, and when your time is up and you have to move to your next task, you can do so more easily.

Money Management And Utilizing Resources Are Important

Another potential strain the sandwich generation could experience is money management. The good news is many seniors don’t require much financial assistance, so that’s one less thing for a caregiver to worry about. And many people from the sandwich generation find that this is the perfect time to give their adult children the responsibilities of finding a job and becoming more financially independent. And from a caregiving perspective, be sure to utilize the resources available to you and hire a caregiver on either a full-time or part-time basis if needed.

Next Day Access is here to help you provide the care your aging parent deserves. Living at home is important for seniors, but it could present some challenges for you if you are primarily responsible for caring for them. We offer a wide range of mobility products to help them navigate their home safely and give you some peace of mind at the same time. Don’t hesitate to contact us at any time to learn more about our products and how we can help.

Being a primary caregiver can be a difficult task, but it can also be one of the most rewarding jobs. The hard part about taking care of a loved one is trying to give them the proper care while also navigating the other aspects of life. According to the Caregiver Action Network, nearly 30% of the United States population provides care for an older loved one or a disabled family member or friend, and spend roughly 20 hours per week providing care.

There may come a time when you simply can’t provide the necessary care needed for a senior living at home, so you’ll have to look for caregiving options. Here is what to consider when choosing a caregiver.

Direct-Hire Versus An Agency

If you choose a primary caregiver as a direct-hire rather than working with a caregiving agency, you’ll likely pay less money for their services. However, a downside of a direct-hire is you are responsible for any injuries that occur while performing the job, and you’ll have to make arrangements to provide care to your loved one if the direct hire gets sick. On the other hand, a caregiving agency may be more expensive, but those types of issues are taken care of by the company to give you peace of mind knowing care will always be available.

Ask Whether They Are Bonded And Insured

Caregiving agencies should all be bonded and insured to protect you and themselves in the event of a worker’s compensation claim. But if you decide to work with a direct-hire, be sure and ask them if they are bonded and insured and request a copy of the documents for confirmation. Anything can happen when you let someone into your home, so you want to ensure you are protected.

Ensure A Caregiver Can Meet Expectations

When interviewing a potential primary caregiver, provide all of the expectations you have set to get an idea of whether they are equipped to handle them. This could include asking them to keep up with medication schedules, driving to appointments, cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, and anything else you expect them to do. Outline all of the expectations in writing and be sure to have the contract signed, so everyone is on the same page. If you have any doubts that the caregiver can’t handle all expectations, then move on to a different option.

Look For Compatibility During The Interview

Your senior living at home will likely enjoy having a primary caregiver more if they have a good connection with them. During the interview process, look for characteristics that indicate their personality may be compatible with your loved one. Communication is critical as well, so look for signs that your loved one is engaged with the potential caregiver and get their feedback afterward to see what they thought.

Next Day Access can help equip your home with the proper mobility aids regardless of your caregiving situation. Feel free to contact us at any time to schedule a free home assessment and learn how we can help make your home safer to navigate.

Caring for a senior living at home can be a full-time job. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, roughly 53 million people provide unpaid senior care to a loved one in 2020. Being a caregiver to a loved one can be one of the most rewarding experiences, but it’s also important to monitor your personal health as well. At some point, it may be worth hiring a caregiver to help you out either on a part-time or full-time basis. Here are three types of senior care that are most common for a senior living at home.

Certified Nursing Assistant

A certified nursing assistant is licensed and trained to provide specific types of medical care. They are supervised and directed by a registered nurse and can perform tasks like checking vitals, changing wound dressings, administering medications, and more. If your senior loved one requires this type of care, you can feel confident that an experienced medical professional is taking proper care of them. And when providing senior care, safety should be the number one priority.

Home Health Aide Or Personal Care Attendant

Home health aides or personal care attendants are very commonly hired by family caregivers to provide additional assistance. If you have a full-time job and other responsibilities that don’t allow you sufficient time to do all the chores around your loved one’s home, then this type of help can be beneficial. A home health aide can assist with day-to-day duties like taking care of laundry, cleaning, keeping track of medication schedules, driving to appointments, and much more. Having this peace of mind knowing a caregiver is with your senior loved one is invaluable, while also allowing your loved one to continue living independently at home.

Family Members

Depending on the level of senior care your loved one needs, family members are common caregivers. The important thing to remember if family members are caring for a loved one is to monitor their physical and mental health as well. Caring for a family member can be a rewarding experience, but a challenging one at the same time while you try to juggle everything else happening in your life. If responsibilities can be divided among family members, then some of the stress can be reduced. Many families choose to provide caregiving to their senior loved ones to make them feel comfortable. There’s a balance to consider between comfort and getting the proper senior care to consider as well, though.

Next Day Access wants to help every senior living at home have a great experience. We offer a wide range of mobility devices and products to help keep you moving at your pace while maintaining confidence at the same time. Caregivers need assistance too, and sometimes all it takes is a mobility product to make life easier for everyone involved. Weighing the costs and benefits of the various types of senior care is important, and if you need any help determining the right option for you, feel free to contact us at any time.

There may come a time when your aging parent can’t move around as well as they used to. You don’t have to put them in a nursing home or assisted living center because of it, though. Sometimes seniors with mobility concerns can still live a great life in the comfort of their home but just need a little more help than usual. Your senior parent may not reach out to you directly for help, so it’s important to monitor their actions yourself and intervene when you believe it’s necessary. Doing so could help prevent falls and other injuries, and here are three tips for you to consider.

Evaluate Their Home For Safety Purposes

A senior parent likely won’t come to you saying they are having a hard time getting out of the shower, walking to check the mail, or other routine tasks. They could be fearful of what you will think and don’t want you to worry about them. So the next time you go to their house, do a thorough evaluation of their living space, and watch them navigate it.

If you see them walk more slowly and carefully in the bathroom while bracing themselves on the walls, ask them if they would like grab bars installed to help improve their balance. And sometimes, a big help could be simply removing rugs, rearranging furniture, improving the lighting, or other things that could make navigating the home easier.

Assist With Transportation

Transportation is a major hurdle for seniors with mobility concerns. If they are fearful of driving for any reason or have become incapable of doing so, they might avoid making doctor appointments, visiting family or friends, or even running important errands. Depending on the specific situation with your senior parent, you have some options. You could offer to give them rides wherever they need to go or help them find the appropriate public transportation to get them places. Investing in a mobility scooter could be another option for them, along with a vehicle lift to run errands more easily.

Help Them Find A Reliable Mobility Aid

Mobility aids are available in all shapes and forms, depending on your senior parent’s needs. A mobility scooter is a great option, as well as a wheelchair. Other helpful products to include around the house include a stair lift, lift chairs, a wheelchair ramp, grab bars, and more. Just be sure to explain to your senior parent that these products are designed to enhance their independent living efforts, not replace them. Once they are open to the idea of having a mobility aid, they should experience a higher quality of life as a result.

Next Day Access is here to help ease your mind about your aging parent. It can be difficult to tell when a senior parent is struggling with mobility if you don’t see them every day. Communication is critical in these situations, so you can get ahead of any potential problems and prevent serious injuries. A simple mobility aid can go a long way in improving their quality of life, so contact us today to see what products may be ideal for your senior parent.

Autumn is in full swing, which means it’s time to check in on seniors living at home to ensure they are living as safely as possible. Many different environmental changes occur from summer to autumn, including less daylight, more leaves on the ground, and cooler temperatures. While these may not be a big deal to many people, seniors practicing independent living may struggle to adjust to them. Here are some tips to help seniors get through the autumn season safely.

Inspect The Lighting In And Around The Home

With daylight not lasting as long, it’s essential to inspect the lighting in and around the home. Sufficient lighting is especially critical inside the home to ensure trip and fall hazards are minimized. Stock up on extra light bulbs, invest in night lights and buy enough batteries to last you through the autumn and winter months. And if you’ll be spending time outdoors when it’s dark, consider investing in a motion light or other type of light to illuminate walkways or your wheelchair ramp.

Ensure Thermostats And Heaters Are Working

Make sure your heater and thermostat are working properly before the first big cold front blows through. And if seniors living at home use a fireplace, now is the time to clean the chimney to prevent an accidental fire from starting. The last thing you want to happen is to be unprepared for the cold weather, so test all of these components before it gets too cold so you know you’re ready when it arrives.

Keep Walkways Free From Leaves

Leaves on the ground may not be a problem for some people, but they can significantly impact seniors living at home. For one, it’s difficult to see anything underneath the leaves, so you don’t know what you’re stepping on. Also, leaves can be slippery and can increase the risk of falling. Make sure all the leaves are cleared from walkways and the wheelchair ramp of the home so seniors can feel stable and balanced when entering and exiting the home.

Maintain Healthy Habits

When temperatures drop, it’s easy to neglect your exercise routine and fall into poor eating habits. It’s critical to avoid falling into these traps because they are necessary to keep the immune system strong to fight off any illnesses. Plus, regular physical activity keeps your muscles and joints healthy so you can maintain balance and stability. If you’re caring for a loved one, make sure the home is set up in a way to promote movement and help them with groceries if needed.

Next Day Access can help seniors maintain independent living throughout the autumn and winter months. Small adjustments in and around the home can make a huge difference. Whether it’s installing a wheelchair ramp, investing in a lift chair, or simply adding some lighting around the home, now is the time to evaluate your space and determine what you need. If there’s anything we can assist with, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of holiday gatherings is the wonderful meals you get to share with family and friends. The problem with these meals is they sometimes aren’t the healthiest, which can seemingly derail the healthy habits you’ve been so diligent with throughout the year. While one unhealthy meal may not hurt you, it’s still possible to avoid going overboard and enjoy it. These tips can help you get through your holiday meal and still retain good senior living habits.

Pay Attention To Portion Sizes

Portion size is critical for keeping your blood sugar level stable. It’s also sometimes difficult to control portion sizes at a holiday meal since there’s so much food, and you want to try a little bit of everything. Just remember that leftovers will likely be available, so you shouldn’t have to go overboard with your holiday meal. Try a few items during the meal and then take some different items for leftovers the next day.

Substitute Ingredients When Preparing Dishes

When preparing holiday meal dishes, consider substituting ingredients with healthier options. If some of your healthy habits throughout the year include using almond or wheat flour instead of white flour, use it when preparing your holiday dish as well. Most people won’t be able to tell the difference, and you can feel better knowing it’s a healthier dish you can enjoy without guilt.

Choose More Proteins Than Carbs

There are usually plenty of carbs to choose from at holiday meals. Things like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, rolls, and more provide the ultimate comfort when indulging in a meal. But if you’re trying to maintain good habits and still enjoy the meal, you won’t have to feel as guilty if you load up on proteins and limit carbs. The human body digests protein slower than carbs, so it’s easier to keep blood sugar levels stable. You don’t have to eliminate carbs completely, though. Just consider eating healthier carbs, like sweet potatoes, quinoa, berries, and other plant-based carbs.

Prioritize Exercising Before And After Meals

It’s easy to say you’ll limit your food intake before you see all the food, but it’s not the end of the world if you do go a little bit overboard. Combat this by going for a walk or doing other exercises before the meal. You may feel less inclined to overeat if you do this. And plan on going for a walk after you eat to prevent a spike in your blood sugar level. You may feel much better as a result and can get back to your good habits the next day.

An important aspect of senior living is focusing on what types of food you put in your body. When you develop healthy habits throughout the year, those habits don’t have to be thrown away during the holidays. By following these tips, you can enjoy a great meal with family and friends without feeling like you’ve gone overboard. If you need any more tips like these, contact Next Day Access.

Falls are one of the leading concerns for people over age 65 in the United States. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falling doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of the aging process and can be largely prevented. Whether you’re caring for a loved one in your home or if they are practicing independent senior living in their home, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure they are as safe as possible in the bathroom. Conduct a home evaluation and consider these tips to improve bathroom safety.

Install Grab Bars

There may not be a more important bathroom safety product to install than grab bars. Too many seniors use towel bars to hold on to for balance purposes, and many of those bars fail since they aren’t designed to hold the weight of a person. Grab bars are designed to be stronger and sturdier so seniors can maintain their balance and regain balance if they lose it. Ideal locations to install them include inside and outside the shower, by the toilet, near the sink, and other common locations.

Purchase A Shower Chair

A shower chair can be a valuable investment for seniors as they get older. Sometimes standing consecutively for several minutes can be uncomfortable and potentially unsafe. A shower chair allows them to sit down if they need to while still being able to bathe themselves. This is a relatively inexpensive bathroom product that can be valuable and essential in preventing falls in the shower.

Consider A Walk-In Tub

A walk-in tub may require significant bathroom modifications, so it’s important to evaluate current and future needs before investing in one. The benefits speak for themselves, though. With a lower threshold, seniors won’t have to step as high to get in and out of the bathtub, decreasing the risk of losing their balance and falling significantly. The anti-slip surface is also an important feature since many traditional bathtubs do not include them. If your senior loved one is becoming more limited in their mobility as they get older, then it may be time to consider a walk-in tub.

Other Bathroom Safety Products To Consider

Other common bathroom safety products include adding night lights, anti-slip rugs, bath mats, and other simple products. These are designed to help seniors see where they are going so they won’t trip as easily and can make a slippery floor safer to navigate. As you’re caring for a loved one, take note of these features in their bathroom and make simple additions or adjustments to significantly enhance safety.

At Next Day Access, we believe bathroom safety should be a top priority for caregivers taking care of senior loved ones. Most slip-and-fall accidents occur in the bathroom, and the vast majority of them are preventable. Our wide range of bathroom products can give you and your loved one some peace of mind, so contact us today to schedule a free home assessment.