Senior Care Access-Jennifer Turgeon

Coping with Grief after a Loved One Dies Grieving the loss of a loved one is among the most painful of human experiences. Even when a loved one;s death is not sudden, we may feel intense emotions, such as shock, anguish, anger, sadness, frustration, confusion, numbness or guilt. The passage of time can ease these feelings, but grief can persist indefinitely. You may be familiar with the five stages of grief, as described in the iconic book On Grief and Grieving: Denial, Anger..., Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Each stage is a common reaction to a loved one's death; however, you may not experience all of them, and you may not go through them in the same order. Grief is unique to each person and does not follow a neat line or path. Painful emotions can resurface anytime, months, or years after someone dies. The loss of a loved one is not something we "get over", and we may never feel a complete sense of closure, We can, however work towards living with our grief in a way that allows us to move forward. Grief is stressful, emotionally and physically. In addition to experiencing powerful feelings, you may notice a chance such as lack of appetite, sleeping problems, and a weakened immune system. You may also feel fatigue,headaches or muscle tension. Maintaining your usual healthy habits- including exercise, eating a healthy diet and taking prescribed medications can be challenging after a loved one dies. Try to practice self-care, as difficult as this may seem. even a brief walk daily can be beneficial. Seek out company of good friends and family members. The world may look bleak in the weeks and months following the loss of a loved one, but over time, you will regain strength, and your outlook will start to look a little brighter. These coping strategies may be helpful: *write your feelings in a journal *Talk to others who are grieving, share stories about your loved one *Attend a bereavement support group *Seek counselling from a therapist or psychologist *Anticipate difficult days, such as holidays and anniversaries, and prepare yourself for them *Ask for what you need, whether it is practical help or emotional support, and accept help when it is offered. See more

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A diagnosis of Dementia or Alzheimers is life changing for both the individual with the disease and their family and loved ones. Providing care for someone living with the disease is not a simple task and can place a great deal of stress on the caregiver. In the early stages of Dementia, the individual may feel everything is under control but as the disease progresses so does the degree of care sometimes and even leading to 24/7 assistance. Dementia is an overall term used ...to describe various brain disorders caused by physician changes in the brain. The changes in the brain occurs due to loss of cells and the breakdown of important nerve connections. It is a progressive disorder severe enough to interfere with life everyday and prevent and slow down daily activities. Progressive disorder means that the symptoms will get worse over time as brain cells become more injured and gradually die. Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, 564, 000 individuals are currently living with Dementia and this number is expected to rise to 1.4 million people by 2031. Some of the symptoms of Dementia include memory loss, difficulty completing tasks, reduced reasoning, communication problems, mood changes, forgetful of family/friends, and loss of coordination. There is help and no one has to face any form of Dementia or Alzheimers disease alone. For more information on different support programs or planning next steps please contact me. See more

Optimize Your Health: Nutrition Challenges and Eating A Healthy Diet for Seniors Are you getting all the nutrients you need? As we age, we need more of certain nutrients. Knowing what to aim for each day will help you change your eating habits and identify gaps where supplements can be used. Nutrition Challenges for Seniors:... Seniors may need supplements because of age-related challenges. As we get older, our appetites tend to decrease. Some seniors have oral health problems or difficulties with chewing or swallowing. Seniors with mobility or dexterity challenges may have trouble getting groceries or cooking meals. Social isolation, depression and other issues can decrease the motivation to eat well. Medications can reduce a senior's appetite or sense of taste or smell. People with restricted diets, food allergies or certain medical conditions may also need supplements. Eat a Healthy Diet: Whenever possible we should get our nutrients from food. Canad's food guide recommends eating plenty if vegetables and fruit, whole grain foods and protein foods, limiting highly processed food and making water your drink of choice . To boost your nutrient intake, first modify your diet. For advise ask your physician or a registered dietitian. If it is difficult for you to meet your nutritional needs through diet alone, vitamin or mineral supplements can help. These are the nutrients that older adults often lack: Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12

The Talk.... Accomodation-how long can you remain independant in your own home or a seniors residence? If you are still living at home, what would trigger a need for additional support or home care services? When do you feel is the right time to move to a seniors residdence or long term care home? Responsibility for maintenance areound the house- is your family able to help you out or shovel the walkway, driveway or cut the grass?... Finances- how much do you have in savings? Are family members willing and able to contribute to home care, a retirement residence, or if necessary, long term care? Do you have insurance? Are you up to dateon what is covered? Health and Wellness- In the event of life saving measure, what medical interventions do you want in place? Do you want specific time lines attached to them? Is there a DNR in place? A DNR form is a request not to have any CPR administered to resore cardiac or respiratory functions. To which extent are life supporting meassures to be in place? Discontinued? Who has been designated as your POA in the event you are unable to direct your care or have life support measures discontinued? A POA kit can help you identify your wishes for your personal care or property. A POA provides a person, designated by you, with the capacity to make health care decisions, on your behalf, should you become mentally incapable of doing so, yourself. Would Hospice be an option? It is imprtant to share this information with a primary health care provider. End of Life- And, inevitably, what are your end of life wishes? Funeral? Service? How will the costs be covered? Consider using a recoreder to record your end of life wishes and share these with family members and your healthcare team Having these discussions with your adult children or caregiver, enables you to have open dialogue about how they can support your wishes while being realistic as to what capacity they are capable of offering in terms of support.

WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP It is never too early to plan for the future. Pride is huge and we may not realize how much so until we need to ask for help. Asking for help can be humbling and unsettling. It can also be liberating and provide answers to questions that keep you awake at night. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Life comes with changes and may be hard to accept. Addressing issues is always tough, but there are professionsal that can advise you on diff...erent types of support issues that are available. Try not to get ahead of your thoughts and it may help to write out your concerns. Here are a few signs that your loved one needs help: 1-if they are in a situation that is affecting their physical or mental health. 2-loss of control over what use to be daily tasks. 3-isolation and no longer socializing 4-a red flag is forgetfulness, missed medications, appointments or payments create a domino effect. See more