Our loved ones' mental health and well-being are of paramount importance, especially as they grow older. A recent study has discovered a significant link between anxiety and cognitive decline, as well as dementia, in older adults. By gaining a deeper understanding of these findings, we can better support our elderly family members and friends as they age. Read on for a summary of this groundbreaking research, and be sure to follow the link here to learn more. Research Overview The study, conducted by a team of researchers, aimed to explore the connection between anxiety and cognitive functioni ..read more

Many elderly seniors that Arcadia Home Care works with gradually withdraw from their social lives when they can no longer cope with the impact of short-term memory loss. They may deny something is wrong, but they are aware that there is a change in their memory functions. A simple case of trying to get to an old friend’s place — and getting lost — can shatter confidence. Rather than revealing the truth, the senior will try to “cover up.” They will cancel the next meeting, refuse an invitation, or claim to be unavailable due to another social commitment or a health appointment. Some years ago ..read more

We all need to accept responsibility for our relationships. Thus, we owe ourselves to take care of our own needs while we care for a loved one — including a person living with dementia. How do you preserve your sense of self-worth and priorities when you are the primary caregiver for a family member who is losing cognitive abilities? It’s not easy. Many caregivers get overwhelmed slowly as their responsibilities grow relentlessly. Often, change may be quite gradual. It’s almost like we don’t notice what’s happening to us; we forget about taking care of our own needs. It’s like snow that has b ..read more

Try as I might, my grandfather would not listen to me when I repeatedly and gently told him he needed some support if he wanted to keep living in his own home. Never mind that I own Arcadia Home Care and have arranged quality home care for many other seniors for over a decade. But did my grandfather listen to a stranger and accept his suggestion to get some help at home? Yes, indeed he did! No matter how intelligent and accomplished you may be, a senior parent will tend to see you as you were: as a sweet child, or as a rebellious teenager, or a radical student. Mom or dad will not s ..read more

Much too often, Arcadia Home Care gets phoned by families in crisis. A minor health issue, a bad winter storm, or sudden demands at work push family caregivers beyond what can be expected from them. We are glad to respond in such situations, often within 24 hours. But how much better to avoid such disasters and start a conversation now! So often, Arcadia meets adult children who are convinced their mom or dad will never accept assistance or even address the issue. This belief prevents possibility. And the opportunity is all that needs to be created. The elderly parent needs to sense that it i ..read more

Where do you begin when your parent or spouse suffers from explosive episodes due to mental health issues, and you feel you are simply burning out? First, I would check if specific “triggers” cause the anger. Arcadia Home Care has developed this worksheet ARCADIA – Behavioural Tracking Record. Our Personal Support Workers use it to track behaviors, and you may find it to be a helpful tool as well. Second, you may need to explore if medications provide the best balance for all concerned. “Peacefully sedated” without the quality of life is not what I would seek for anyone. The next step is ..read more

For many people, the term palliative care breeds an image of a gloomy place where people go to die. Palliative care does aim to assist individuals who are going through the dying process. But there is much more involved in the process than death and gloom. Learn more about Arcadia’s palliative home care services. Palliative Care Arcadia Home Care thanks Canada’s long-term care services portal TorontoNursingHomes.com for making available this guest blog post written by Laura Bulmer, R.N., BScN In this first entry of a series on palliative care, I share some stories about my Mom’s journey ..read more

I have often seen family circumstances that leave an older adult to manage all the caregiving for their spouse with dementia personally. Even when extended family members are supportive, they no longer know how to provide help. It seems useless to offer support when all such offers are consistently declined. The caregiver may be defensive, wondering why the family suggests she can’t cope any longer. The caregiver hopes the day-to-day can continue to be managed, even if things are progressively getting more demanding. They may deny that life has changed beyond anyone’s ability to provide the r ..read more

Staying at home with our seniors remains the safest option during this pandemic. However, this might be limited to the activities they used to do since they cannot go out and about to do exercises. Here are five activities to engage your seniors with fun activities and something new to look forward to. 1. Dance Party   Taking a stroll around your neighborhood is a great opportunity to get some exercise and get fresh air. However, as the season is changing and getting colder, your senior might not want to go outside. Instead, put on some music they like and have them move and groove ..read more

In a previous blog post, I suggested that you may wish to bring a senior with signs of early dementia to a health care provider who can do an assessment. I also suggested that stopping at their regular family doctor's office may not be the best approach. Let me tell you why by sharing an anecdote. A client shared the following story with me, and I received permission to share it with you here. "When my mother turned 60, I made an appointment for her at a memory clinic. This created a lot (understatement) of drama and stress because my grandmother's mother had experienced cognitive disord ..read more