7 Tips for Achieving a Healthy Weight
If you are struggling to maintain or achieve a healthy weight, know that you are not alone. In 2020, an estimated 29 percent of U.S. adults aged 65 or older were obese. To reach your healthy weight goals, it’s important to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. A healthy lifestyle will also help you obtain better health and wellness. Keep reading to discover our top tips for achieving a healthy weight.
Tips to Achieve a Healthy Weight
1. Discuss Your Options with Your Doctor
As you age, there are various factors that affect your weight, such as your age, gender, genetics, lifestyle habits, sleep, and where you live. It’s recommended that you discuss your options with your primary doctor. Your doctor can offer some safe suggestions based on your age, health conditions, and any medications you are currently taking. By getting a recommendation from your doctor, you will be more likely to achieve a healthy weight in a safe manner.
2. Eat Healthy
One of the best tips to help you achieve better health is to eat healthier foods. When you eat the same types and amounts of food, but do not increase your physical activity, this can lead to weight gain. This is due to your metabolism (how your body obtains energy from the food you eat), which slows down as you get older. If you want to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume. For those that need to gain weight, you should burn less calories than you eat or drink.
As for what to eat, it’s a good idea to eat nutritious foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats. When possible, limit the amount of food you eat that is high in sodium, sugar, and calories. Like any diet, it’s helpful to have a cheat day to enjoy those special treats that aren’t on the healthy list.
3. Be Mindful of Food Portions
Aside from what you eat, it’s also important to be mindful of how much you eat. If you eat smaller portions throughout the day, this can help you avoid overeating and gaining too much weight. To limit portion sizes, it’s recommended that people 50 or older follow the Healthy U.S. Style Eating Pattern, in which they choose foods from the following list each day:
- Dairy - 3 cups (fat-free or low-fat)
- Fruits - 1 ½ to 2 cups
- Grains - 5 to 8 ounces
- Oils - 5 to 7 teaspoons
- Protein foods - 5 to 6 ½ ounces
- Vegetables - 2 to 3 cups
4. Drink Enough Water
When you drink enough water for your age and size, this helps your body function at optimal levels, reduces cravings in between meals, improves digestion, and helps you maintain a healthy weight. The Obesity Society indicates that drinking enough water every day can also decrease your waistline and help reduce your body fat percentage. Furthermore, drinking more water can prevent you from becoming dehydrated, a health issue that can cause muscle fatigue and pain, as well as heat exhaustion.
5. Keep Track of What You Eat
Like any goal, it’s helpful to keep track of your progress. By keeping track of what you eat and drink, you can see how many calories you are consuming every day. You can use this information to determine any changes you can make to achieve your health goals. For example, if you are trying to shed some pounds, you need to burn more calories than you consume.
6. Exercise Daily
If your doctor has given you the approval for physical activity, this is an excellent way to maintain a healthy weight, achieve long-term health and wellness, stay independent, perform activities of daily living (ADLs), and prevent falls. Try to get 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week, which can be broken up into smaller amounts over the course of the week. Even if you can only do light exercise a couple times a week, it’s still better than no exercise.
As always, it’s best to talk with your doctor about increasing or changing your current exercise routines. Depending on your health conditions and current medications, you may need to avoid certain activities that can cause more harm than good. If you have any of these health concerns, ask your doctor which exercises would be safe for you.
- Blood clots
- Chest pain or pressure
- Dizziness
- Hernia
- Irregular heartbeat
- Joint swelling
- Recent hip or back surgery
- Shortness of breath
Your doctor will also offer some safety tips or specific exercise suggestions that would help you achieve your goals. Remember that you don’t need an expensive gym membership or at-home equipment to get active. There are plenty of options to try, so it’s most important that you find something you enjoy and is safe for you.
Exercise Ideas:
- Bicycling
- Cleaning your house
- Dancing
- Gardening
- Running
- Swimming
- Walking
7. Get Enough Sleep
The Sleep Foundation indicates that between 40 to 70 percent of older adults may have chronic sleep issues, which can affect your ability to perform daily activities and live the highest quality of life. Since getting enough sleep is crucial for achieving better health, recharging your body, and reducing the risk of overeating, it’s important to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. For those that struggle to fall or stay asleep, consider adopting a bedtime routine to help you sleep. This can involve activities that you find relaxing, such as meditating, praying, stretching, or yoga.
As you can see, there are numerous ways to achieve a healthier weight. These tips also have additional benefits for your health, such as more energy, better overall health, improved strength and balance, all of which can help you maintain your independence. At Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services, we offer a wide range of expert services designed to help you achieve your unique health goals. Our compassionate staff and therapists are equipped to help you regain your function and independence, improve your health, and better manage your health conditions.
Assisted Living for People with Disabilities
Did you know that 2 out of 4 American adults age 65 or older live with at least one disability? Despite their challenges, most disabled seniors strive to live as independently as possible. There are a variety of disabilities, which can affect people in different ways. A disability can have a direct impact on a person’s ability to safely live on their own. A disabled person is defined as someone who has challenges with performing activities of daily living (ADLs). While most people think of a person in a wheelchair, the reality is that most disabilities are “invisible” to others. Let’s take a look at assisted living options for older adults with disabilities.
What Are the Assisted Living Options for Disabled Seniors?
Under Title II of the American Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities must have equal house opportunities. This law has helped improve the quality and quantity of housing options for disabled people. There are a wide variety of disabilities, which affect people in unique ways. The four main disability categories include the following:
- Intellectual disabilities: this affects a person’s ability to communicate, learn, and remember information.
- Mental disabilities: this affects a person’s behavior, emotions, and thoughts.
- Physical disabilities: this impacts a person’s physical health, such as their mobility
- Sensory disabilities: this impacts a person’s senses, such as blindness or hearing loss.
In general, physical and sensory disabilities are the most common types that impact a person’s housing needs. Positive changes have been made today to ensure that disabled seniors can safely live at home, such as including ramps and handrails both inside and outside of their homes.
- Assisted Living Facility - these facilities provide expert care to older adults who are no longer able to safely live independently. These seniors may require assistance with ADLs. In general, assisted living offers either private or semi-private apartment-style rooms with a living area and kitchenette.
- Nursing Homes - these facilities offer a supportive environment and skilled nursing care. It’s common for nursing homes to offer private and semi-private dormitories or apartment-style rooms for residents.
- Skilled Nursing Facility - these facilities provide 24/7 medical care to patients in need of specific medical needs from a professional licensed staff. Like other facilities, skilled nursing offers both private and semi-private rooms in a comfortable home-like atmosphere.
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRs) - these facilities offer a complete continuum of senior care, such as independent living, skilled nursing, and more. In general, residents must be able to live independently when they arrive. However, some communities provide specific care for additional fees. You can expect to find apartments, cottages, condos, duplexes, and townhomes.
How to Find an Assisted Living Facility for Disabled Seniors?
If your loved one is looking for an assisted living facility near them, there are several options to find the best one for your loved one’s health needs.
- Check out a national assisted living directory.
- Search on Google for assisted living facilities near you.
- Contact us for assistance with finding out how Liberty can best help your loved one.
- Explore our services page to discover how our assisted living can meet your loved one’s needs.
- Visit Liberty’s website to find a skilled nursing facility near you.
Common Assistive Devices to Promote Independence
Assistive devices are specific tools designed to help improve a person’s independence. Common assistive devices include canes or walkers used to help a person stay mobile and to support them while standing and walking. These devices help older adults achieve a higher quality of life and boost their independence. This allows older adults to live safely on their own, even if that means it’s no longer in their home.
Examples of Assistive Devices
- Adaptive clothing to help older adults easily get dressed.
- Applications designed to make phones and tablets touch-free.
- Computers that offer assistance like medication reminders and answering questions (i.e. date, time, weather, etc.).
- Door knock notifications for those that are deaf or have hearing loss.
- Large print keyboards and large display clocks for those with visual impairment.
- Modified keywords, such as LUCY.
- Robot vacuums and mops that self-clean the senior’s home on a regular basis.
- Voice recognition products.
As the need for assistive technology increases, it’s important to do your research for the best products for your loved one. For any devices that are connected to a computer, it’s important to ensure that the device is compatible with your computer’s operating system (OS). After all, you want to ensure that your loved one can easily use the devices designed to help them.
We hope this article helped provide an overview of your loved one’s assisted living options. Since many seniors are living with disabilities, it’s important to know what their options are regarding where to live and how specific facilities can help them achieve a high quality life and more independence. At Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services, we provide expert services at all of our assisted living facilities in NC. Contact us today to learn how we can help your loved one receive the care and support they deserve!
How Sleep Impacts Your Health
The CDC reports that around 70 million Americans have chronic sleep issues. These sleep issues can lead to numerous health risks, including chronic illnesses, diabetes, injuries, mental illnesses, obesity, poor health, reduced work productivity, and more health care costs. It’s no surprise that not getting enough sleep can have a negative impact on your health, especially as you get older. Let’s take a look at how sleep impacts your loved one’s health and tips to get better sleep today.
How Does Sleep Affect Older Adults’ Health?
When you don’t get enough sleep, this can prevent you from living the highest quality of life. A lack of proper sleep can make it challenging to perform daily activities. Not being able to perform ADLs (activities of daily living) can prevent an older adult from living independently in their home.
Additionally, studies have shown that poor sleep can lead to obesity. This is because sleep regulates the hormones that are responsible for telling your body when you are hungry and full. Thus, not getting enough sleep can lead to an older adult eating more unhealthy foods.
Did you know sleep affects your mental health, immune system, and ability to control emotions. If your loved one is regularly sleepy during the day, this can increase their risk for falls and injuries. In the case of an emergency, those with sleep problems may be slower to respond to emergencies, such as a house fire.
How Much Sleep Do Older Adults Need?
This may be surprising, but older adults still need about 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. The National Sleep Foundation conducted a survey of older adults and found that 30 to 39 percent of these adults reported having issues with sleeping. As people age, it’s common for it to take longer to fall asleep and stay asleep. This can be a result of medications, bathroom breaks, or medical conditions that interfere with an older adult’s sleep. Of course, the most important part is that a person is able to fall back to sleep and get enough sleep.
What Factors Cause Poor Sleep?
There are numerous factors that can lead to poor quality sleep. Due to COVID-19, many older adults have been affected by this pandemic. For example, older adults may have experienced more stress, sickness, social isolation, and loneliness, as well as less sleep, physical activity, and joy. In turn, this can make it difficult to fall asleep. If an older adult is taking certain medications, these can keep them from falling asleep easily.
If an older adult is feeling very tired during the day, this may be an indicator of a serious sleep issue like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), cognitive impairment, or cardiovascular issues. For those with OSA, this is when weight placed on the upper chest and neck leads to air flow being blocked. Common symptoms include drowsiness and snoring, as well as gasping, dry mouth, and headaches. As people age, the risk for OSA increases and can contribute to poor health and increased risks of accidents, injuries, and obesity.
When it comes to food, overeating and eating too much unhealthy food can contribute to poor sleep. Specifically, food with low fiber and high amounts of added sugars and saturated fats can negatively affect an older adult’s ability to sleep. This includes butter, cheese, and red meat.
As always, it’s recommended to discuss with your doctor if you're concerned about sleep issues due to sleep apnea, an illness, or current medications.
Tips for Better Sleep
If you are having trouble sleeping, there are tips you can follow to improve your quality of sleep. Sleep experts recommend adopting a healthy lifestyle, which can positively affect your overall long-term health, well-being, and ability to sleep. Consider the following tips below to achieve better sleep.
1. Use Your Bedroom for Sleeping
If possible, it’s best to use the bedroom for sleeping. This will help your body and mind associate this room for one primary use, to relax and go to sleep. It’s best to not eat or work in this room. Keep your room at a comfortable temperature. While it may be difficult, try to keep computers, phones, tablets, and TVs out of your bedroom, which will reduce the temptation to be on device late at night.
2. Don’t Stress About Waking Up at Night
As adults age, waking up at night may become quite familiar. It’s important to remember that this is very common. As long as you are able to fall back to sleep, it’s not a big concern to wake up to use the bathroom or get a glass of water. For those that are having trouble going back to sleep, try to get up, read a book for a few minutes, or listen to relaxing, quiet music. Once you become sleepy again, it should be easier to go back to sleep.
3. Follow a Bedtime Routine
Choose a bedtime routine that helps you relax and prepare for sleep. It’s a good idea to limit your screen use, especially when social media, news, and YouTube videos can overstimulate the brain to stay awake longer. A few helpful alternatives to relax include listening to soft music, reading a book, or writing in a journal. This will have a calming effect that prepares your mind for lights out.
4. Avoid Specific Foods and Drinks Before You Go to Bed
Alcohol and sleep aids can make it more difficult to get restful sleep. To help you get quality sleep, it’s wise to avoid eating large meals or snacks before bed. Also, caffeine can keep you awake at night as it can stay in your bloodstream for up to 12 hours after drinking your favorite cup of joe. If you’re having trouble sleeping, it’s a good idea to limit your caffeine intake in the evenings.
5. Do Things That Bring You Joy
As much as possible, do at least one thing a day that brings you joy. This will be different for everyone. However, some suggestions include visiting family, video chatting with a friend, writing letters to others, gardening, or making a new dish. When you do something that you love, this can help lower your stress levels and feel more content with life. In turn, it will be easier to fall asleep when you have done something that was fulfilling.
6. Exercise On a Regular Basis
Getting regular exercise and fresh air is an effective way to improve your mood and outlook on life. While you’re outside, the sunlight will tell your brain that it’s daytime. In turn, being outside will help you adopt a normal sleep and wake routine.
As you can see, there are several factors that can impact your ability to fall and stay asleep. We hope these tips will help you achieve better sleep. With better sleep, you will naturally feel more energized, healthier, and happier. Contact Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services today to learn about how we are redefining healthcare to meet your needs. We provide everything from short-term rehabilitation and long-term care to therapy services and skilled nursing.
Easy Ways to Prevent Falls
The CDC reports that one in four older Americans fall every year. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death for people aged 65 and older. Common fall injuries include broken bones, head injuries, and hip fractures. When an older adult falls, this can also lead to emotional stress. Indeed, this can interfere with an older adult’s ability to stay healthy and independent, as well as safely live on their own. If you have an aging loved one, neighbor, or friend, keep reading to discover some easy tips to help them prevent falls.
How to Prevent Falls
There are several easy ways to make your loved one’s home safer. A safer living space can help prevent falls at home. This will allow your loved one to continue living independently and safely in the place they love most - their home.
1. Remove the Clutter
This is one of the easiest tips to prevent falls in the home. By keeping the home free of clutter, your loved one will find it easier to get around without accidentally tripping or losing their balance. Clutter can include stacks of paper and magazines, shoes, and toys on the floors, hallways, and stairs. Indeed, this tip is especially useful for aging adults that have vision impairments and may not see something on the floor or stairs.
2. Fix or Remove Tripping Hazards
To help prevent falls, it’s a good idea to regularly check for tripping hazards in the home. You can help check your loved one’s home by looking through every room, hallway, and closet for any potential hazards. This can include loose carpet, slippery rugs, or wooden floorboards that are not secured in place. By fixing or removing these hazards, you can help prevent your loved one from falling and injuring themselves. Depending on the injury, this could be serious enough to require an ER or hospital visit and months of recovery in long-term care.
3. Install Handrails or Grab Bars in the Home
Did you know handrails and grab bars are an effective safety aid for older adults? This can make your loved one’s home safer, which will give you peace of mind. Key areas of the home to install handrails or grab bars include the staircase and bathroom (next to the toilet and in the bathtub). If you are unable to set this up, you can hire an expert handyman to set these safety aides up for your loved one.
4. Wear Proper Fitting Clothing
It’s a good idea for your loved one to wear proper fitting clothes at home. It may be tempting to wear loose fitting clothes, but this can increase their risk for falls. Clothes that are too big or drag on the floor can get caught under their feet or furniture, thus causing a potential fall.
5. Use Proper Lighting Inside the Home
It’s important that your aging loved one’s home has proper lighting that makes it easy to see in every room and hallway. If your loved one has trouble seeing due to poor lighting, this could lead to a serious fall. If your loved one needs to get up in the night, using nightlights in the bedroom and bathrooms makes it easier to see in the dark.
6. Wear Shoes or Non-Slip Socks
While socks are comfortable, they pose a risk for slipping on hard floors, such as in the kitchen and bathrooms. By wearing shoes or non-slip socks, older adults will be able to grip the floor more easily. This is important for maintaining their balance and thus, reducing their risk of falls.
7. Use Non-Slip Mats
It’s no surprise that floors become dangerous when they are wet from a spill or cleaning. For hard floors, consider using non-slip mats to prevent falls on these potentially slick surfaces. This includes bathrooms (i.e. showers or bathtubs), kitchens, and porches.
8. Live On One Level
When possible, it’s recommended for seniors to live on one level. Even with stair railings, there is a serious fall risk with climbing up and down stairs. If your loved one is not able to live in a single level home, encourage them to limit the trips they take up and down the stairs. It helps to have friends and family that can come over, who could help clean the upstairs of their home.
9. Get Up Slowly
When your loved one gets up from laying down or sitting, encourage them to do this slowly. This will help them gain their balance before they start walking. By doing this simple step, they can significantly reduce their risk for falls. This same advice goes for going up or down the stairs. Just take a breath and pause for a moment before moving.
10. Discuss Their Health Conditions
Encourage your loved one to talk with their doctor about their current health conditions. It’s important that they are honest about any issues they are having with their health, taking medications, or staying mobile. Their doctor will be able to evaluate their health conditions and offer recommendations for how to help reduce their risk for falls. By reducing their risk for falls, they will be able to maintain their independence at home.
As you can see, there are several easy tips to prevent falls. You and your loved one can discuss these tips, which is a great starting point to improve their home’s safety. After all, it’s important that your loved one can maintain their health and independence in a safe home environment for as long as possible. If your loved one is recovering from an injury, illness, or surgery, contact Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services today. We would love to help your loved one regain their independence and achieve their health goals through our short term rehabilitation, assisted living, skilled nursing, or outpatient therapy.
What You Need to Know About Senior Living Assessments
When it comes to your loved one, their health and well-being is a top priority. You want them to be as safe and independent as possible. As your loved one ages, they may experience certain challenges that require expert care and support from a senior living facility. It’s important to research your loved one’s options and find the best choice for their unique health needs. To provide the best care and support possible, senior living facilities will perform senior living assessments. This is a necessary step to determine your loved one’s physical and mental health, so the facility can provide the appropriate care that will help your loved one achieve their health goals and regain their independence. Keep reading to find out what you need to know about these assessments for your loved one.
What Is a Senior Living Assessment?
A senior living assessment is used to determine your loved one’s unique care needs. A nurse or admissions staff member typically performs this assessment, which is done at the facility. The assessment will help the facility determine what type of care your loved one will benefit from the most, such as assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, or long-term care. Additionally, this assessment will help the facility create a personalized care plan for your loved one.
What Does a Senior Living Assessment Evaluate?
Typically, an assessment will evaluate and rank your loved one’s behaviors, illnesses, food requirements, need for assistive technologies, and ability to communicate, perform ADLs, and manage medicine. Family members and caregivers are encouraged to come to assist with answering specific questions about their loved one’s level of functioning. While it may be challenging to complete this assessment, this information will help facilities gain a better understanding of what your loved one needs regarding their care and support.
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Can your loved one perform ADLs, such as bathing, dressing, and feeding themselves or taking their medication and cleaning?
- Dietary Needs: What type of dietary needs and restrictions do they have? For example, do they need to follow a low-sodium or low fat diet? Do they have any food allergies?
- Fall History and Risk: Has your loved one fallen in the past or recently?
- Health Issues and Conditions: Does your loved one have any serious or chronic health conditions? Do they have any of the following: arthritis, cancer, dementia, diabetes, digestive issues, hearing impairment, heart issues, high blood pressure, stroke, or visual impairment? If yes, how do these conditions affect their ability to function and live independently?
- Housekeeping: Is your loved one able to clean their house on their own? This includes basic chores like washing dishes, cleaning up their main living spaces, and doing laundry.
- Mental Condition: Does your loved one have any mental conditions? Are they able to remember people, places, and what time it is? Do they suffer from regular or frequent confusion, such as forgetting where they live or who their family is?
- Mobility: Is your loved one able to move around their house on their own or do they require assistance? If they require help getting in and out of bed and chairs, do they use a wheelchair or other assistive device?
- Special Medical Services: Does your loved one need special medical services, such as an oxygen tank?
- Toileting Assistance: Does your loved one need help using the bathroom? Do they suffer from incontinence? If yes, can they go to the bathroom on their own with the help of assistive devices? Does your loved one need to be reminded to go to the bathroom?
- Transportation: Can your loved one drive themselves to the grocery store and doctor’s office? If not, can they use public transportation on their own?
The Best Option for Your Loved One
As you can see, there are numerous factors that are considered when conducting senior living assessments. After reading this article, we hope you are now ready to start exploring senior living facilities in your local area. It’s best to not wait until the last minute when your loved one is no longer able to live on their own safely. If you are looking for a family-owned, local business with several senior living options, contact Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services today. We offer everything from short term rehabilitation to assisted living and long-term care to skilled nursing facilities.
What Are the Benefits of Working In a Long-Term Care Facility?
Do you enjoy helping others, making a difference in your community, and forming bonds? If you said yes, you may want to consider a nursing assistant career in a long-term care facility. For nursing assistants, you will enjoy several benefits from working in a long-term care facility. Let’s take a look at those benefits now.
Get to Know Patients
Patients that receive long-term care will generally live at the skilled nursing facility for a long time, such as for weeks, months, and even years. This is far different from hospital settings where patients are only there for a few days. By working at a long-term facility, this gives you an opportunity to get to know patients and their families on a personal level. These bonds with your patients help create a rewarding, meaningful career.
Learn from Patients
As you get to know your patients, you will discover that each person has a unique story to tell, wisdom to share, and joke to make your day. For senior patients, they have lived a long, full life and will most likely be willing to share some life lessons with you. By listening to their stories and showing interest, you can learn a great deal from the elderly.
Your Services Will Be Appreciated
No matter what role you play at work, you will likely be providing basic care for your patients. This care may include changing bedding, helping patients with personal hygiene, or even going on a walk. Since patients in long-term care facilities can no longer live independently, most will be grateful for your daily care and support. Additionally, your patients’ family and friends will appreciate the compassionate services you provide to their loved ones. Indeed, this gives them peace of mind that their loved ones are in good, caring hands.
Continue Learning About Aging
Aging is a natural process that everyone experiences. By working with patients in long-term care, you will learn more about the aging process beyond what was taught in school. Aside from the educational aspect, this career will also help you develop more compassion for those easing through a natural stage of life. When you need to take care of an aging loved one in your family, this experience will help prepare you for those challenging days ahead.
Work in a Supportive Environment
When you work in a caring and supportive environment, this leads to a highly rewarding job that you look forward to going to each day. Like you, other health professionals choose to work in long-term care facilities to have a positive daily impact on their patients’ lives. You will find that your co-workers are kind, compassionate, and empathetic individuals that care about the health and well-being of each patient.
As you can see, there are several benefits to working at a long-term care facility. If you are interested in starting a rewarding career in long-term care, contact Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services today. We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages, flexible scheduling, a 401 (k) retirement plan, referral bonuses, and more.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Rehab vs. Outpatient Therapy for Patients
Whether you or your loved one is recovering from an injury or surgery or living with a serious illness or disability, there are several options to help improve your quality of life and regain your independence. In case you didn’t know, Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation offers short-term and long-term rehabilitation, as well as outpatient therapy for patients. The best type of care will depend on your unique health needs. Let’s take a look at the differences regarding short-term and long-term rehab, along with outpatient therapy, which will help you determine the best choice for you or your loved one.
Short-Term Rehabilitation
Short-term rehab provides services designed to help patients’ recover from any injury or surgery, to regain strength and mobility, and to achieve the highest quality of life possible. If you or your loved one has had a chronic condition or slow recovery from surgery, this short-term care helps rebuild your abilities and improve your strength, overall health, and confidence. The main focus is to help you return to your prior living setting as quickly and safely as possible. Since this is a temporary solution, patients can focus on reaching their goals while a care team assists with activities of daily living (ADLs).
In general, short-term rehab is covered by Medicare and other major insurances. Patients that receive short-term care have access to a professional care team, including nurses, doctors, and therapists. Once the patient’s doctor has determined that the patient is fully recovered, the next step is for the patient to return to their prior living setting, usually at home.
Long-Term Rehabilitation
With certain health conditions, injuries, or disabilities, you or your loved one may still require additional rehabilitation. Long-term rehabilitation is an excellent option that provides a homelike atmosphere and constant nursing care. If patients do not need short-term rehab, they can still benefit from long-term rehab if they are living with degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. The main goal with this care is to provide a safe, supportive, and stable environment where patients can live the highest quality of life possible and engage with others while receiving assistance as needed. Long-term rehab facilities are usually offered through senior living communities or skilled nursing communities.
Outpatient Therapy
Outpatient therapy is for patients that need an individual treatment plan that may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Each patient’s treatment plan is designed to help patients maximize their outcomes and quality of life. This plan will focus on helping patients overcome functional, physical, and/or communicative challenges. With this therapy, patients will return home in between their therapy sessions. Patients will continue their exercise at home according to their doctor’s instructions. Indeed, outpatient care is a great way to help patients transition from inpatient care to a patient’s prior living setting.
Caring with Excellence
At Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services, our short-term and long-term rehab is available for our residents that qualify for this care. Our rehabilitation provides physical, occupational, and outpatient therapy services to those that need it. Liberty’s expert team provides compassionate care and support to help our residents achieve their health goals. By putting our residents in control, this allows them to determine how they spend their day, such as when they wake up, eat, and what activities they participate in. This helps us provide caring with excellence in a way that helps residents live a healthy, happy, and meaningful life. When residents are feeling good, this will help motivate them to achieve their goals and regain their independence. If you or your loved one is interested in short-term rehabilitation or long-term rehabilitation services, contact Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services in Wilmington, NC today.
How Families Can Cope With the Decision to Put Their Loved Ones in a Skilled Nursing Home
As your loved one’s primary caregiver, you are responsible for their health and wellness. You must make difficult decisions and consider all options about your loved one. This places pressure on you to make the best choice for this person who depends on you. The decision to place your loved one in a skilled nursing home is never easy, especially when you have been caring for your aging, sick, or injured loved one for a long time. However, a nursing home may be the best choice for your loved one to receive the care and support from a professional care team designed to help them reach their health goals and achieve the highest quality of life possible. Let’s discuss some tips to help families cope with the decision to put their loved ones in a skilled nursing home.
1. You Did Not Cause Your Loved One’s Decline in Health
When you take care of someone full-time, it can be easy to blame yourself for their condition. No matter the cause of your loved one’s decline in health, know that you did not cause this. Whether they are recovering from surgery or an injury or are living with a serious illness like Alzheimer’s, it’s important to remember that their health would likely continue to worsen whether you remained as their primary caregiver or had professional help.
2. Professional Care is a Next Step
Depending on your loved one’s health condition, they may require a professional level of care to address their unique needs. A skilled nursing facility conducts thorough assessments to determine whether a potential resident can benefit from their expert care and support. If ordered by their doctor, your loved one will be admitted to one of these long-term care facilities that provide skilled nursing care and regular monitoring. Indeed, a skilled nursing facility will help your loved one receive the care necessary to regain their independence and function. Additionally, allowing the experts to take the reins can help you avoid burnout as a caregiver and give you the time and energy to focus on your own life.
3. Accept that You Are Doing the Best You Can
Being the family caregiver for your loved one is a major responsibility. You have to make difficult decisions about things you do not have experience with and handle situations that don’t have a right or wrong choice. After you make a decision about your loved one’s health, you must accept the results no matter what they are. This can mean several new immediate changes or maintaining the same care for weeks or months. Remember that you have a challenging, yet rewarding job. You can only do the best you can with the information, resources, and time you have. It’s not giving up on your loved one if you realize you require professional help.
4. You Have to Live Your Own Life
When taking care of your loved one, it’s a good idea to remember that you can only do so much. Some things are out of your hands. If your family also helps care for the loved one, there will be times when people do not agree with your decisions. Remember that you are trying your best, but cannot allow the situation or others to prevent you from living your own life too. Indeed, you have to make time for yourself to avoid the dreaded burnout.
5. Determine the Best Options for Your Loved Ones
Your loved one may not be keen on the idea of moving to a skilled nursing home. After all, this means giving up their independence and the comfort of their own home. This can be an emotional time for your family as you debate on what’s the best option for them. You may feel guilty about considering the idea, but these facilities are designed to help patients regain their function and independence. Indeed, your loved one will have access to the care, support, and professional therapy services necessary for them to meet their goals. These facilities will motivate your loved one to do their best, just like you have done as their caregiver.
6. Allow the Skilled Nursing Home to Do Their Job
After your loved one’s doctor has ordered skilled nursing care and they have been approved to move to a local facility, it’s important to research the facility. Check out their website to learn about their services, visiting hours, location, and contact information. Encourage your loved one to look at the site with you, so they can see what the facility looks like and what it offers them. When they know what to expect, you will find that your loved one will be more willing to consider the transition from their home to a skilled nursing facility.
Once your loved one has moved in, take this time to accept that the facility will be the main provider for now. You will still be able to visit them, ensure they are receiving quality care, and bring special items to remind them of everyone that loves them. By allowing the nursing home to do their job, this will give you more time to focus on your life, such as work, hobbies, and relationships.
We hope you found these tips helpful if you are deciding whether to put your loved one in a skilled nursing home. Use online reviews from other families and patients that share their experiences with a reputable skilled nursing facility you are looking at. This will provide you with valuable insight into whether a specific nursing home is the best option for your loved one. While the skilled nursing facility will provide the primary care and support, your loved one will still need you to play an active role in their recovery. Contact Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services to learn more about our short and long term rehabilitation services and find a facility near you across North Carolina.
Tips for Staying Connected to Your Loved Ones in a Skilled Nursing Facility
At Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services, our patients in our skilled nursing facilities benefit from staying connected to their loved ones. This helps our patients feel loved, valued, and not so alone. If your loved one is currently living in a nursing home, you may not be sure of the best ways to stay connected, especially during the pandemic. Some people find that nursing homes are stressful because they aren’t sure what to say or do. For your loved ones, these family visits are a special opportunity to bond, catch up, and stay connected with the family. Consider these easy tips to help stay connected with your loved one living in a skilled nursing facility.
Contact the Nursing Facility
One of the best ways to stay in touch with your loved one is to plan a visit. It’s recommended that you contact the local nursing facility to determine when you can visit, for how long, and how often. Every facility has different rules and it also depends on your loved one’s condition and wishes for having visitors. Like anyone, your loved one has good and bad days. It’s important to respect these requests and visit on those good days when your loved one is up for having company.
Due to COVID-19, you will also need to ask about policies for visiting during the pandemic. If you are allowed to visit, you will have to follow specific guidelines to keep everyone at the facility safe and healthy. This will likely include wearing a mask, social distancing, and not visiting if you are sick or have been in contact with someone that is sick. The facility may not be allowing visitors depending on their state’s rules regarding the pandemic. As an alternative, ask if you can schedule a video chat with your loved one via Skype, Google Meet, Zoom, or FB Messenger. It’s likely that the nursing facility will make these special arrangements, so your loved one can stay in touch with you.
Plan Your Visit In Advance
Once you find out the details of the best time to visit, it’s a good idea to plan your visit in advance. This will give both you and your loved one time to prepare and to look forward to this special time together. For many residents, they have the most energy in the morning or after lunch. Since the nursing care team works with your loved one daily, they will know when it’s best to visit. You may be allowed to eat a meal together, which gives you and your loved one something to do during the visit. Indeed, this can make it easier to engage in conversation.
Be Present with Your Loved One
To be present, it may be helpful to set your phone to silent during your visit. This will help you focus on your loved one and enjoy those quiet conversations together. If your loved one notices you playing on your phone or fidgeting with your belongings, they may think you don’t want to be there. Of course, this is far from true but it’s important to be mindful of your nonverbal body language. A positive visit will help your loved one get through those difficult days during recovery and be reminded by those that matter most.
Be Mindful of Your Communication Style
Depending on your loved one’s conditions, they may have trouble hearing you or focusing on you. You may need to adjust your communication approach by talking slower, a bit louder, and possibly repeating yourself. It also helps to talk to them at eye level, which helps them stay engaged with you during conversations. Remember not to get frustrated and be patient with your loved one. This is not easy for them, but having you there to love and support them lets them know they are not alone.
Bring Special Items
Ask the nursing facility about their policies on bringing special items. If allowed, you can bring family photos, a favorite movie, or collectible with you. This is an excellent way to cheer up your loved one and allow them to take a break from their current situation and remember the old days. When possible, you can also bring their favorite recipes that you used to cook together. Find out if the facility allows children and pets to come as they can be a wonderful way to create joy for your loved one. There is something about seeing a child’s smile or hearing their laughter or seeing a dog’s tail wag or listening to a cat’s purr that soothes a person in a way that words cannot. Your loved one will hold on to these memories and be able to share them with their friends and nursing facility staff.
Be Mindful of the Length of Your Visit
When it comes to the length of your visit, every person will be different. Some patients love to have long visits of just being together, while others appreciate shorter, more meaningful visits filled with quiet conversations. During your visit, pay attention to your loved one to see if they appear to be tired or overwhelmed. This may be time to let them rest and wrap up the visit. However, if your loved one seems lively as they share old stories and talk about their experiences at the facility, no one says you have to leave immediately. Of course, be mindful of facility visiting hours. These hours are in place to ensure your loved ones receive the proper care and rest necessary to help them recover and reach their health goals as quickly as possible.
Don’t Let Dementia Intimidate You
If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, it can be challenging to know how to connect with them. You may not know what to say or how to respond to them. There is no exact science to this, but always remember to be patient and positive. It’s possible that they will repeat things and you will have to repeat what you say too. Just take your time and remember that your loved one is happy you are there with them even if they cannot express it verbally. Your loved one will likely be interested in talking about a specific topic, such as fishing or gardening. By knowing what they are interested in, this makes it easier to start up a conversation. The skilled nursing facility may even allow you to spend time together outside, such as visiting an on-site garden.
Include Your Loved One as Part of the Family
While at a skilled nursing facility, your loved one may feel like they are missing out on family time and making memories together. Ask the facility about the possibility of taking them out for a family trip together or to celebrate a birthday party. If this is not possible, remember to take lots of photos and videos and share them with your loved one at your next visit. This will help them feel like they are still an important part of your family even though their living setting has changed. To help motivate them to regain their independence, set aside some precious family photos for their room that they can proudly share with friends and the nursing staff. No matter what their health goals are, having visual reminders of people that love and support them makes a huge difference in their recovery rate and success.
We hope you found these tips helpful for visiting your loved one living in a nursing facility. By following these tips, you will find that your visits are more enjoyable, meaningful, and less stressful. At Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services, we offer skilled nursing facilities across North Carolina and South Carolina to help meet your loved one’s specific health goals. Learn more about our skilled nursing, short term rehabilitation, assisted living, and outpatient services designed to meet your needs.
What Does a Certified Nursing Assistant Do?
At Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services, our certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide valuable daily care and support to patients. CNAs play a key role in helping patients achieve their health goals and living the best quality of life possible. If you or a loved one is considering short or long term rehab care at one of our facilities in NC or SC, it’s important to know what certified nursing assistants do and how they will positively impact your daily life. Keep reading to discover what CNAs do.
What Does a Certified Nursing Assistant Do?
A certified nursing assistant helps patients in a variety of ways, such as with activities of daily living (ADLs) and other basic health care needs. CNAs typically work with the patient’s healthcare team, including physicians, nurses, and other certified nursing assistants. Indeed, this is necessary to provide the best care and support for every patient. Since every job is different, the specific types of jobs will vary based on the patient population and where someone works. For CNAs that work in a nursing home or long term residence, they will likely work with patients that are recovering from an injury or surgery or living with an illness or disability.
Join Liberty’s Team as a Certified Nursing Assistant
If you love helping people and want a fulfilling career in the healthcare industry, consider becoming a certified nursing assistant. Since patients will continue needing assistance as they recover from an injury or surgery and regain their independence, the demand for CNAs in long-term care will continue to rise. Aside from the positive impact you will have on patients and their families, Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services also offers competitive pay, flexible scheduling, a 401 (k) retirement plan, referral bonuses, and much more.