Last updated 6 months ago
When you hear that a relative has suffered a stroke, the news is scary. Will he or she be able to walk, talk, or even recognize you anymore? What kind of elder and memory care will your relative require? The effects of a stroke can vary greatly from person to person and include physical and mental damage. This guide may help you understand common physical and mental symptoms that are associated with strokes.
Physical
Strokes result in a wide range of physical symptoms. Chronic fatigue, vision loss or problems, and changes to sleep patterns can vary in severity and their effects on the patient. Conditions like seizures and incontinence may require medication or extra care to manage. Strokes commonly result in paralysis of various body areas, depending on which region of the brain the stroke affects. Generally, a stroke in one side of the brain will result in paralysis in the opposite side of the face or body.
Mental
Depending on the location of a stroke, your relative’s personality may alter. A stroke in the right brain may cause impulsivity, while a left-brain stroke may result in marked cautiousness. Most strokes cause some degree of memory loss; some can result in a severe loss of mental function. Many stroke victims also struggle with language. They may experience problems with writing and speaking, as well as comprehending both spoken and written language. Stroke victims may become confused about the difference between left and right and lose the ability to perform basic mathematical operations.
If your relative needs specialized care after a stroke, the Whitcomb House’s assisted living facilities may be the perfect solution. We offer comprehensive elder care with units that specialize in memory care in the Milford and Franklin area. Call us today at (508) 634-2440 to learn more about our memory care program and other assisted living amenities.
Last updated 6 months ago
Whitcomb House is an assisted living facility located just outside Worcester in Milford, Massachusetts. We offer a variety of programs, including traditional assisted living, memory care, Alzheimer’s care, and respite care. For more information, call us at (508) 634-2440 or visit our website. For important senior health information, read through these articles.
If your loved one has Alzheimer’s, you may want to consider long-term care.
BankRate.com offers five helpful ways to pay for assisted living, from government benefits to loans.
Keep your loved one happy and healthy with these myths and facts about senior nutrition.
Exercise is important for seniors, and stretching is an important part of exercise. Check out these pre-walking stretching exercises for seniors from LiveStrong.com.
Are you looking for ways to fight memory loss? Check out AARP’s four tips for better memory, and a better life.
Last updated 6 months ago
If you’re providing care for an elderly relative, you may know it can be a rewarding but exhausting endeavor. Sometimes, providing elder care can reduce your own quality of life, and when you aren’t performing your best, your relative suffers as well. Respite care can provide a well-needed break for caregivers, allowing them to mentally and physically renew themselves. Here are three signs you should consider respite care.
You’re exhausted.
When caring for another, self-care often falls by the wayside. You may not be eating enough, sleeping enough, or are physically strained from moving your senior. Poor diet and lack of sleep can contribute to numerous illnesses, not to mention general malaise. If your physical health is suffering, placing relative one in temporary assisted living may be a smart choice for both of you.
You’re stressed out.
Caring for an elder on a daily basis can take a drastic emotional toll. Caregivers sometimes set the bar too high for themselves, creating feelings of guilt, resentment, and even depression. Placing your relative in an assisted living facility provides them with the high grade of care you’d expect, and can restore your positive mental state.
You’re neglecting your own life.
You may find yourself losing contact with friends or family, underperforming at work, or simply just ignoring beloved hobbies and pastimes. Whatever the case, providing elder care often means sacrificing parts of your own life. We all make sacrifices for those we love, but when caregiving is drastically affecting your lifestyle and happiness, it may be time to consider respite care. Placing your relative in elder housing can allow both of you to return to healthy, independent lives.
If you’re in need of respite care in central Massachusetts, contact the dedicated team at Whitcomb House. Our Milford assisted living residence offers both traditional and memory care programs for your elderly relatives. To learn more, call us at (508) 634-2440 or visit our website.
Last updated 7 months ago
As we age, our bodies develop different dietary requirements. It’s especially important to continue proper nutrition into our senior years, since we require extra nutrients and are unable to exercise as often as we used to.
As part of comprehensive elder care, seniors should consume whole grains, colorful fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and low-fat dairy products. Fiber helps keep the digestive tract running smoothly, which is important as the body becomes more sedentary. Eating fruits and vegetables in their whole, raw form is the best way to obtain optimum nutrition. It’s also important to obtain enough vitamin B12, vitamin D, and calcium.
Whitcomb House provides nutritionally balanced meals and snacks at their Milford, Massachusetts assisted living facility. For more information, call (508) 634-2440 or visit our website.
Last updated 7 months ago
However, with proper preparation, your senior can receive the care he or she deserves at an assisted living facility without any startling bills. Explore the following tips below for financing assisted living.
Plan ahead.
If your relative is young enough, look into purchasing long-term care insurance. These programs vary widely in affordability, but are all designed to pay for assisted living over a longer period of time. You even may want to consider purchasing long-term care insurance for yourself, since plans increase in affordability the younger and healthier you are.
Use their home.
If your senior’s home will still be in use by a spouse when he or she enters assisted living, consider a reverse mortgage. These programs, available to those over sixty-two, allow homeowners to convert some equity into cash, making them a viable option to pay for assisted living. If both parties will be moving out, or your relative is single or widowed, selling the home is a great way to finance elder care.
Consider a loan.
Sometimes, a home sale does not happen as soon as you’d like. If you have a house on the market, and a relative in dire need of elder care, consider a bridge loan. These loans are specifically designed to help elders pay for assisted living while they are unable to sell their home. Bridge loans are interest-only loans that pay the assisted living facility until the borrower is able to sell his or her home.
Exercise your benefits.
The government may help pay for assisted living if the senior meets certain requirements. The Department of Veterans Affairs covers assisted living care for wartime veterans and their spouses, given that they have served at least ninety days of active duty. Certain states also have Medicaid waivers that allow for partial funding of assisted living.
If your relative is in need of assisted living near Milford, Massachusetts, call the caring team at Whitcomb House at (508) 634-2440.
