We can't always help our aging loved ones as much as we would like. Whether because we live too far away, because our work or kids take all our time, or because our loved ones need professional care that we can't provide, sometimes we have to look for someone else who can give them the care and attention they deserve. Finding a caregiver for your loved one is sometimes the best decision even if you live nearby and are an active part of your parents’ or grandparents' lives. As much as we want to care for our loved ones ourselves, it's no secret that caregiving can be exhausting and can lead to ..read more

First, we at Mavencare would like to acknowledge Social Workers’ Month this March. Our caregivers work tirelessly to provide the support needed by our seniors and loved ones, and we are so grateful for all the hard work they do every day. If you have a social worker in your life, whether a friend, family member, or community member helping care for a loved one, please make sure they know how much they are appreciated. March is also Music Therapy Awareness Month in Canada. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “music therapy is the clinical use of music to accomplish individualized goals such as ..read more

Adults over the age of sixty-five have an increased risk of heart-related health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and heart disease. While some risk factors are unavoidable, such as pre-existing conditions like diabetes, there are many other risk factors that can be managed to lower the chance of seniors developing these heart problems. Exercising, maintaining a healthy diet, and lowering stress levels are just some of the ways seniors can keep their hearts strong and healthy as they age. In this post we’ll discuss the warning signs of heart problems, foll ..read more

As we leave 2021 behind us and look forward to a new year, it’s a popular time to make resolutions to improve our quality of life and the lives of our friends and family. People tend to get more settled in their habits as they get older, but it's never too late for seniors to start making changes that will have a positive impact on their health. With that in mind, here are five suggested New Year's resolutions for your senior loved ones. 1: Healthy eating It's hard cooking for one, and it's easy to lose interest in meal planning if you are following the same recipes week after week. As the se ..read more

Vision changes are a normal part of growing older. Some vision changes are easily tackled with small interventions, like eye drops for mildly dry eyes or an increased glasses prescription for eyes that are a bit strained while reading. But there are other, more serious eye changes that can signify eye disease, and seniors and their loved ones should be mindful of any new eye symptoms they experience.  In this post, we’re providing some key information about senior eye health, including preventative and proactive measures to keep eyes in good health, a list of some of the eye conditions th ..read more

February 19th is Caregivers’ Day! The third Friday in February was designated as a day to celebrate and appreciate caregivers by the Providers’ Association for Home Health and Hospice Agencies in 2015. If you are a caregiver or if you know a caregiver, take some time this Friday to acknowledge the incredibly essential and complex work that caregivers do.  This week, we want to say thank you to every single caregiver. We want to thank those who work professionally as caregivers, as well as those who provide unpaid care for someone they love. We want to say a heartfelt thanks to caregivers ..read more

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression “related to changes in seasons” that most commonly affects those who suffer from it during the winter months, due to a change in sunlight exposure. SAD is differentiated from the “winter blues” experienced by those who live in cold climates with short winter days by the fact that it causes more severe symptoms that impact everyday life, like feelings of hopelessness, low energy, and an inability to focus.  In this post, we’ll outline the symptoms of SAD, so that you can look out for these symptoms in your senior loved ones. We’ll a ..read more

As we get older, our health tends to demand more attention and upkeep. One way to keep on top of our health – and the health of our senior loved ones – is to complete health screenings for the various chronic and acute conditions that tend to affect older adults.  Since many of us check in with our health at the outset of a new year, what better time than now to make sure that we’re getting ourselves and our loved ones appropriately screened? Though those in their fifties aren’t seniors, we’ve started the guidelines in this post at age 55, since early screenings are great preventative mea ..read more

Here we are: it’s a brand new year! So many of us are breathing a sigh of relief to see 2020 in the rearview mirror, and to have the fresh start of a new year. It’s a traditional time of the year to set goals and make resolutions, so in our first blog post of 2021, we’re offering up six new year’s resolutions that family caregivers might like to adopt this year.  1. I will take care of myself first. The old adage about “putting your own oxygen mask on first” is a common refrain in caregiving – but that’s because it’s true. It’s easy to forget about the care you need in your efforts to be ..read more

The holidays are going to look different for most families this year. COVID-19 cases are spiking in both the US and Canada, and this means that it isn’t advisable to travel for the holidays and/or to gather in large groups with our loved ones.  Sacrificing our holiday plans and traditions isn’t easy, but it’s important, especially for our senior loved ones, who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. So, we’ve put together a list of eight ways to enjoy the holidays with your loved ones – at a distance.  1. Acknowledge all your emotions. The holidays can bring up difficult emotions ..read more