Columbia Aged Care

If your loved one has experienced a traumatic or painful event they can suffer from the side effects for a long time.

Traumatic events are usually a frightening or distressing experience that can leave the person feeling numb or disconnected.

As a carer, it’s natural to want to help your loved one feel better and to assist them through this difficult time. You can’t take their pain away but you can help them to accept what has happened by providing essential support and advice.

Better Health Channel has provided some tips on how you can support your loved one:

• Tell them you are sorry about what has happened and make it clear that you want to help them get through it.
• Spend time with your loved one and keep them company.
• Your loved one may experience emotional outbursts, which is a common side effect of a traumatic experience. Don’t take their outbursts to heart because they usually don’t mean what they say or do.
• Offer practical support such as cooking dinner or going grocery shopping for them.
• Help them return to their normal routine (when they are ready).
• Talk about what happened and listen to them.
• Try not to get upset.
• Be patient and don’t pressure them to talk about the event if they are not ready.
• Help them to relax and have fun again.
• Help your loved one participate in physical activity, such as walking in the park. Exercise can help take their mind off the experience and help them to get a better night’s sleep.
• Find appropriate ways to help them laugh.

Here are some reactions to avoid when helping your loved one through a traumatic experience:

• Don’t ignore the event and don’t avoid talking about it.
• Don’t judge their feelings or thoughts.
• Don’t be impatient and expect them to get over the event quickly.
• Don’t insist they need professional help straight away – not everyone who has experienced a traumatic event needs professional treatment. Give them time to deal with the trauma themselves but if you feel like things just aren’t getting better after a few days or weeks then consult a professional.

Your loved one may take a long time to recover from a traumatic event, but by supporting them and listening you can help them through the recovery process.

Read the full article here.

Many caregivers struggle with the role of providing care to their elderly parent, spouse, family member or friend. Common complaints are that there is not enough time in the day, or they feel frustrated with the difficulties of elderly care.

Aging Care has provided some tips to help you care for your loved one.

Remember the person inside: the process of aging changes people’s personalities – conditions such as deafness can cause anger and Alzheimer's affects memory. Keep in mind the person that you have always loved whenever you feel frustrated.

Arm yourself with knowledge: If your loved one has a medical condition, learn all you can about their ailments, symptoms and treatments. This will guide you and instil confidence, and will also help your loved one relax in your care.

Have humility: Don’t underestimate your loved one’s intelligence and knowledge. Embrace all you can learn from their experiences and don’t disregard their opinions. Respond to your loved one as the person they were before they became ‘the patient’.

Remember that it is natural to feel frustrated and overworked at times, but use these tips to make your role easier.

Read the full article here.

Pets can become great companions for elderly people and come with many benefits.

A pet such as a dog or a cat can provide love, laughter and companionship. They can offer a sense of encouragement and well being, especially if they have just lost a loved one.

Before buying or adopting a pet, elderly people should understand that having a pet means lots of dedication – both physically and financially. This is not a bad thing as this new responsibility for a life can add new meaning to an elderly person’s way of living.

Caring for and providing for a pet can help an elderly person:

• Stay active through feeding, grooming and exercising their pet
• Get out of the house and into fresh air and sunshine
• Meet new people to socialise with while taking the pet out for a walk

Studies have also indicated a link between dog ownership and an increased survival rate in people with heart issues as a pet can reduce stress levels and create a happy and relaxed environment.

Lastly, in cases where elderly people live alone, have little contact with family or friends or their family lives far away, having a companion there can help with the emotional yearning that many people feel when they are lonely or feel isolated.

Read the full article here.

It is difficult to assess whether your aging parent, spouse or family member needs help at home. Factors such as declining health or periods of illness can dramatically change the ability to look after themselves.
 
In addition to personal caregivers, there are various types and levels of help available for elderly people both in the home and in aged care facilities. The need for services depends on how independent a person is when coping with activities of daily living. Aged Carer has provided a useful checklist to help you identify the level of care a person may require. This includes:
 
Mobility: Can they safely transfer in and out of bed, on and off the toilet, up and down stairs? Are they unsteady on their feet and prone to falls, slips and trips?
 
Driving and Transport: Are they capable of driving safely or using public transport? Can they get to the shops and to medical appointments?
 
Finances: Are bills being paid? Can they manage their bank account and organise their finances?
 
Social contact: Are they isolated in the home? Do they have regular contact with friends and family? Do they engage in social activities or hobbies?
 
Care needs should be regularly re-assessed, particularly in times of illness or stress. Staying with the person for a few days can help you quickly determine whether they need assistance.

If you feel someone needs more care than you can provide, call in professional help.
 
Read the full article HERE.

Volunteers are always welcome at Columbia Aged Care's centres. Our residents love when visitors come - volunteers and family members really brighten their day. 

Essortment.com's article, 'Volunteering Tips: A guide to nursing homes,' explores the benefits volunteers have on nursing homes. The article also provides a number of volunteering tips.

Volunteering is one of the greatest gifts you can give of yourself, and although you won't be rewarded financially, there is a great reward you'll receive just knowing that you've helped make a difference. It only takes one time to see the results of your efforts, and in turn your actions create waves of positive change.

Nursing home environments are one area that need a great deal of volunteers, for residents often get lonely and thrive from interaction with visitors. Residents who don't receive family visitors and room-bound individuals who have no outside contact especially benefit from the time spent visiting with a volunteer. Companionship not only boosts the mood but is actually therapeutic.

Whether you read to residents, talk to them, or simply sit quietly with them for a while, every minute you give them means so much. This is obvious on many of their faces that brighten up during such an interaction. You'll note how they respond to your efforts, and just a smile is all it takes to reach someone. Gifts such as flowers and candy are also welcomed, of course, because as we all know gifts are fun to receive. Gifts should be given the okay by your supervisor, of course, just to be on the safe side.

Even residents who appear angry, detached, confused or are suffering from such illnesses as dementia will react to the stimulation of another person. Some residents may be harder to reach than others, but each and every one of them is a human being, and human beings cannot survive without human contact. Try to remember that they once were as you are, and are still alive and have feelings despite their challenges.

To read full article CLICK HERE