If you ask us, it’s a subject that doesn’t get enough attention, but the reality is that feelings of social isolation can carry deep risks for our senior loved ones.

In fact, did you know loneliness is considered at least as toxic to health as smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day?

There are serious consequences associated with feelings of disconnection, from lower cognitive function to a 32% increased risk of having a stroke.

In this article, we look at a few of the ways seniors are impacted by social isolation, as well as how to tell if your loved one is at risk — and how to support them if they are.

Let’s dive in.

Is technology the answer for social isolation?

Using technology for connection seems like it’s everywhere these days, so it’s valid to wonder: is it actually helpful for seniors? The answer is complicated.

While younger generations may see technology as connectivity, confidence in using new forms of technology decreases with age.

For example, just 61% of Americans 65 and older own a smartphone, compared with 95% of ages 30-39.

And even if seniors do have a computer or smartphone, there can be complications. From difficulty reading screens to challenges with concentration, older adults don’t always experience technology as “senior friendly’.”

So, while technology can certainly be useful for seniors, it doesn’t appear to have a clear positive impact on social isolation.

Risks of senior scams goes along with social isolation

Even if a senior does adapt to new technology with relative success, that doesn’t mean that finding online connection is always a good thing.

Senior scams are a heartbreaking worry we hear stories of over and over again. The internet is rife with ploys designed specifically to take advantage of older adults, making seniors particularly vulnerable.

Even more susceptible are older adults with the kind of lower psychological well-being that often results from social isolation. If seniors don’t have anyone to discuss suspicious or confusing offers with that they stumble upon online, they’re at much higher risk of being victimized.

(Learn more about senior scams and what to look out for in our post here.)

Is your loved one experiencing social isolation?

Are you concerned that your loved one may be experiencing a lack of social connection?

As you can see, social connection is critical to successful aging. And studies show peer interaction is as important as family.

Consider the following questions to help determine if your loved one is too isolated. Answers on a spectrum: always, sometimes, rarely, or never.

Questions to consider:

• Does your loved one engage in opportunities to volunteer and contribute?
• Does your loved one engage in opportunities to continue learning?
• Does your loved one engage in opportunities to attend civic groups / clubs?
• Does your loved one engage in opportunities to attend church or participate in spiritual pursuits?
• Is your loved one able to spend time with their spouse or significant other?
• Is your loved one able to spend time with their adult children for social reasons, not solely with their children in a caregiving role)
• Is your loved one able to spend time with their family, like siblings or grandkids?
• Is your loved one able to spend time with their friends and peers? 

If you find the answers are more on the “rarely” or “never” side of the spectrum, it may be time to help them find ways to increase their opportunities to connect with others socially.

Want a more interactive version of this questionnaire? Click here.

Help your loved one increase their social connection with peers

If your loved one is experiencing a lack of social connection with peers, the good news is that there are many ways to support them. Let’s take a look at some options.

• Adult day care and senior centers offer wonderful options for supporting your loved one to spend the day in a loving environment designed specifically to meet the needs of older adults.
• Many seniors find connection in social and civic clubs, and your local chamber of commerce can be a great spot to learn about them.
• For some seniors, the community aspect of church can become a social lifeline, especially as their peer group grows smaller with age.
• Volunteer groups that align with your loved one’s passions can not only give them purpose, but also help them make friends.
• Leaning into their local community is a great way for your loved one to find easily accessible peers, from neighborhood potlucks to meeting a friend for a weekly walk.

Help your loved one increase their social connection with family

When it comes to social connection for seniors it’s hard to beat the benefits of family time. Let’s look at some ways to support your loved one to spend more enjoyable time with family.

• Organizing weekly meals together is a great way to integrate a regular routine everyone can look forward to — whether you host Sunday dinner at your place, or you pick them up for a weekday breakfast outing.
• Getting your family to pitch in to add to memory books or videos to share with your loved one is a beautiful way to ensure they feel cherished and connected to family they may not get to see as much.
• Putting a monthly family game night on the calendar ensures a fun and casual way for your loved one to feel included, whether they jump into Pictionary, or they just get a kick out of watching the grandkids play from the sidelines.
• Popping in for a virtual visit helps fill in the gaps when you can’t necessarily get together in person. Maybe it’s a spontaneous video call, or perhaps you schedule a Friday night video meet up to check in.

However you help your loved one experience more family connection time, keep in mind that caregiving time does not equal social time. Make sure your loved one has the opportunity to spend time with family that’s simply about being present and enjoy each other’s company.

Next Steps

You can easily see how important it is to be on the lookout for signs of loneliness in seniors as a caregiver.

In this article, we looked at some ways seniors are impacted by social isolation, how to tell if your loved one is at risk, and how to support them if they are.

Have any questions? We’re always here to talk through how we can best support you and your family.

Because at Benton House, we don’t just care for our residents. We care about them.

If you could use support understanding how social isolation may be impacting your loved one, we’d love to help. Feel free to call us at 855-461-2552, or send us a message, anytime.

The post Signs of Loneliness in Seniors, and How to Help Your Loved One Feel More Connected appeared first on Benton House.

You want to help them find (and stick to) a fitness routine that keeps them feeling their best.

But what’s the best way to support them in creating a senior specific exercise program that will significantly benefit their health and that they will enjoy enough to stick to long-term? Because if you ask us, enjoying our days is a crucial part of our overall health and well-being.

Here’s what to consider for a fitness routine for seniors that supports both physical fitness and fun.

Mix and Match Exercise Types For Physical Fitness

Here’s the reality: older adults need three different types of exercise to stay physically fit, according to the CDC. That’s aerobic activity, muscle strengthening, and balance exercises.

Aerobic exercise (AKA cardio) includes a wide variety of activities, from mowing a lawn to doing jumping jacks. It’s all about getting your heart rate up. Group aerobic activities like walking clubs and yoga classes are a win-win: they get you moving, plus have the added bonus of socialization.

Muscle strengthening supports older adults to not lose muscle mass as they age. This can include activities like using free weights at a gym, or going to a strength-building yoga class. When choosing an exercise, it’s important to include each muscle group in the body for overall fitness.

Balancing exercises are also essential, as they help reduce the risk of falling in older adults. Simple activities like walking backward or using a wobble board can help. Many types of yoga are also wonderful because they often naturally incorporate balancing poses throughout a practice.

Group Exercise for Senior Fitness That’s Fun

Socialization. Laughter. Silliness. What could be better than spending time with friends and getting fit at the same time?

We’ll say it: senior exercise programs should be fun.

Because what’s the point of working up that sweat if there’s no one to commiserate with? And we all know falling over trying to hold tree pose in yoga is a much better experience if your friends are there to laugh with about the experience.

But while fun tops our list of favorite reasons to do anything, there are also scientific benefits to pursuing fitness with friends.

Around a quarter of community-dwelling Americans 65 and older are socially isolated. When you consider that social isolation is up there with more commonly known factors like high blood pressure and smoking when it comes to premature mortality, it’s clear that supporting older adults in finding community is crucial.

This means that supporting your loved one in finding a group to exercise with compounds the benefits of physical fitness alone.

Next Steps

As a caregiver, you want to support your aging parents to get and stay physically fit. But their happiness is important to you, and you want them to enjoy themselves, too.

So while there are countless specific exercises out there to choose from when it comes to senior fitness, we highly recommend supporting your loved one to integrate fun and socialization into their exercise activities.

Could you use more tangible help when it comes to helping your loved one stay fit and active? We offer tailored caregiver assessments — plus actionable support — completely free of charge.

Simply call us at 855-461-2552 or send us a message, anytime.

The post Creating a Senior Exercise Program For Both Physical Fitness and Fun appeared first on Benton House.

Do you feel unsure sometimes how to support your aging parent or loved one to stay active? Curious what types of exercises can help your loved one remain healthy?

With all the information out there, it can seem overwhelming. But at the root of it, senior fitness is actually quite simple.

Let’s explore the three types of exercises older adults need.

What Three Types of Exercises Are Recommended For Senior Fitness?

Here’s an unfortunate truth:

Just 38.5% of Americans 65 and older met aerobic activity guidelines in 2016. Even fewer (17.5%) meet muscle strengthening guidelines, according to a 2016 CDC study.

But regular exercise is essential to health and well-being in older adults.

As we age, physical fitness helps protect us from many diseases, including diabetes, stroke, and some types of cancer. Besides that, exercise can help improve mental health, delay dementia onset, and generally improve quality of life.

So what, exactly, does physical fitness mean?

The CDC recommends a combination of three specific types of exercise to prevent and delay health challenges for older adults: aerobic activity, muscle strengthening, and balance exercises.

Aerobic Activities For Older Adults

For aerobic activity, the CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week for older adults.

This can break down in many different ways, but here’s one common example: about 30 minutes per day, five days a week, of brisk walking.

If seniors want to dial up the intensity to what the CDC considered vigorous activities, recommended time can lower to 75 minutes per week. Intensity refers to how hard your body is working during exercise. You can tell you’re doing appropriately vigorous exercise for your body when you feel your heart rate increase and it’s hard to say more than a few words without pausing to catch your breath.

This means vigorous intensity activities differ from person to person based on fitness levels, but common examples include hiking, water aerobics, and running.

Your loved one can stick to either moderate or vigorous activities, or try a mix of the two.

Muscle Strengthening Activities For Older Adults

Besides aerobic activity, the CDC recommends at least two days per week of activities that work all major muscle groups.

Muscle strengthening should target legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms. These types of activities support older adults in retaining muscle mass as they age.

The key to gaining benefits? Finding their edge. For optimal health, it’s crucial to repeat muscle-strengthening activities to the point where another repetition would be too hard to do without support.

Whether at home or a fitness center, there are many types of activities that strengthen muscles.

Popular examples that require a gym or investing in a little equipment include using free weights, resistance bands, and exercise machines.

However, using your own body weight can be just as effective. Classic examples include push-ups and sit-ups. Exercises that overlap into hobbies can be wonderful, too, like intensive gardening and more strength-focused yoga.

Balance Activities for Older Adults

Don’t leave balance activities out! In addition to strength training and aerobic exercise, devoting time to practicing balance has major benefits for older adults.

In fact, a CDC study suggests that an exercise program that includes both balance activities and functional exercise (a type of strength training) reduces the risk of falls in older adults by 24%.

And if seniors spend more time on this combo of exercise? That reduction in fall risk nearly doubles, at 42%.

So what counts as a balance activity?

Walking backward, stranding on one leg, or wobble boards all help to improve balance. Many yoga poses, such as tree pose, are also wonderful for balance.

Next Steps

You want to support your aging parent in getting the recommended exercise to stay healthy and well.

And while there are countless specific exercises out there to choose from when it comes to senior fitness, the most important part is simply to remember the three crucial categories: aerobic exercise, strength training, and balance activities.

Could you use more tangible help when it comes to helping your loved one stay fit and active? We offer tailored caregiver assessments — plus actionable support — completely free of charge.

Simply call us at 855-461-2552 or send us a message, anytime.

The post Senior Fitness: The Three Types of Exercise Older Adults Need appeared first on Benton House.

There are countless reasons why you as a caregiver may consider seeking outside help.

Perhaps you’re experiencing caregiver burnout, and it’s time to find compassionate support that will allow you to step away for a few hours each week and take care of your own needs.

Maybe you and your loved one have started a conversation about moving into a senior living community. Starting with day programs first can help pave the way for a smooth transition.

But what is the difference between adult day programs and respite care? And how can they support both you and your loved one?

Let’s take a look.

How do adult day programs work?

Typically, adult day programs support families by offering senior care for a certain number of hours. These services don’t include overnight stays.

At Benton House you can expect a warm, caring atmosphere where seniors can enjoy the day and caregivers can savor a little extra time to relax and recharge. Stays can range from a one-time afternoon visit to a regular weekly schedule.

Your loved one is welcomed to take part in any of the community’s daily programming for either full or half days. Outings, exercise classes, meals, socializing: all included.

We ask that you schedule day program stays ahead of time to ensure we have the proper resources to offer the best experience for everyone.

What are the advantages of adult day programs for caregivers?

Whether you schedule a one-time visit or regular stays for your loved one, we hear one major benefit over and over again from caregivers: the opportunity to take care of your own needs.

For some caregivers, this looks like time set aside each week for errand-running, a quiet morning alone, or social time with friends. For others, adult day programs allow caregivers to show up to work every day knowing their aging parent is getting compassionate care.

This means that supporting your loved one in finding a group to exercise with compounds the benefits of physical fitness alone.

What are the advantages of adult day programs for seniors?

Isolation is one of the top challenges facing seniors today. So for aging adults who may otherwise spend much of their time alone, being around other seniors is a top benefit of spending full or half days at Benton House. From seasonal outings like fishing trips to exercise classes to mealtimes, socializing goes a long way in supporting your loved one’s health.

Another top benefit: if mom or dad is considering moving to a senior living community long-term, adult day programs are a wonderful way to explore what a residence has to offer.

How do senior respite services work?

Generally speaking, respite programs welcome aging seniors to communities on a temporary basis. This is more intensive than adult day programs because respite services include overnight stays. But respite services are meant to be short term, so they’re also not moving fully into a community.

At Benton House, we consider short term residents to be part of the family. They enjoy

the same services and amenities as other residents of the community.

What are the advantages of senior respite services for caregivers?

Caregivers look to our respite services for short term support. Let’s look at a few examples. 

Perhaps you’re going on a two week cruise with friends, and you know it will be too much stimulation for your aging mom or dad. Respite services can make it possible for you to enjoy your vacation while knowing your loved one is well taken care of, and enjoying their time away, too.

Another advantage: support for caregiver burnout. Respite services are ideal if you’ve reached a level of burnout where you need a significant chunk of time to step away and take care of yourself for longer than what the adult day program can offer.

What are the advantages of respite services for seniors?

The truth is, seniors can often benefit from a shift in routine as much as caregivers. Respite services can offer relief from the isolation and monotony of living alone, with short term stays giving seniors space and time to make friends, learn a new hobby, or simply enjoy a change of pace for a little while.

Short term stays include all the services full-time community members enjoy. Which means that respite services also offer the ideal opportunity for your loved one to get a true sense of what to expect if they’re considering moving into a senior living community.

Next Steps

You’re considering adult day programs or respite care for your loved one because you want them to receive the best care. We do, too.

If you have any questions, we’re always here to talk through how we can best support you and your family.

Because at Benton House, we don’t just care for our residents. We care about them.

If you could use support finding specific activities for your loved one, we’d love to help. Feel free to call us at 855-461-2552, or send us a message, anytime.

The post Adult Day Programs and Respite Care: How They Help Both Caregivers and Seniors appeared first on Benton House.

To reduce overwhelm, it’s often useful to get a clear picture of where to point your attention. To help, here are the six challenges facing seniors today. Plus, don’t miss our tip on where to focus or find help for each one.

Let’s jump in.

What are the 6 biggest challenges facing seniors today?

#1 Medication Errors

Seniors living at home are considered particularly vulnerable to medication errors.

Consider that 88.9% of Americans 65 and older have taken at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days. Seniors often take multiple medications for multiple conditions, prescribed by multiple physicians. Specifically, 66.4% have taken 3 or more, and 41.9% have taken 5 or more.

That’s a lot of potential for medication errors. In fact, 15% of older patients arrive at offices, hospitals, and extended care facilities due to taking medications improperly.

What can you do? Start here:

Tip: Try this medication chart to reduce errors by keeping your elderly parents’ medicine on track.

#2 Poor Health and Fitness

Regular exercise is essential for seniors.

The CDC recommends two types of physical activity weekly to improve health: aerobic and muscle strengthening. This includes moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes, five days a week, and muscle strengthening for two or more days a week to work all major muscle groups. Yet just 13.9% of Americans 65 and older meet those guidelines.

What can you do? Start here:

Tip: Take this fitness and physical needs quiz to find out if your loved one is getting enough exercise.

#3 Poor Nutrition

Poor eating habits lead to multiple health problems in seniors.

Many seniors fail to get proper nutrients in the form of lean protein, whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, and vegetables. This is at least in part because 30% of seniors skip at least one meal a day. Not getting enough protein puts seniors at risk for loss of muscle mass — called sarcopenia — which affects about 30% of adults over the age of 60.

What can you do? Start here:

Tip: Take this nutrition needs quiz to discover whether your elderly parent is eating right.

#4 Isolation

Feeling isolated affects more than emotional health. The reality: loneliness and isolation are linked to a 29% increase of a heart attack or angina, and a 32% heightened risk of having a stroke.

It’s more common in seniors than you might realize: did you know that older people in the U.S. are more likely to live alone than anywhere else in the world? And that disparity is only growing. There are 7.1 million single person households ages 65-74 today — up 51% since 2010.

What can you do? Start here:

Tip: Take this isolation considerations quiz to pinpint whether your loved one may be at risk.

# 5 Risk of Elder Scams and Abuse

The prevalence of both elder scams and abuse is probably the hardest reality we hear about from residents.

We’ve seen that scammers will stop at nothing to steal from our parents and grandparents. From phony tech support to “your grandchild is in trouble” calls, these predators keep finding new ways to hurt them.

In addition to scams, elder abuse — both physical and mental — is on the rise. 21.5% of older persons report elder abuse today, up from 83.6% from before the pandemic.

What can you do? Start here:

Tip: Help protect your loved ones by reading this blog: five statistics about elderly scams everyone should know.

# 6 Lack of Planning

Have you mapped out a plan with your parents to address what will be done as they age? From the numbers, we can see that if you haven’t, you’re not alone.

53% of adult children anticipate that talking through senior care options with their loved ones will be difficult. Without a clear conversation, many aging seniors assume or “expect” family members will take care of them. 27% expect their spouse to take care of them, while 20% expect their family members to.

What can you do? Start here:

Tip: Take this quick “Planning Ahead Questionnaire” to get clarity around where you and your loved one could use support around future planning.

Next Steps

Did any of these challenges facing seniors today feel familiar to you?

You’re not alone. We understand what you’re going through. And we know how helpful it can be to talk to someone who’s seen it all.

If you could use support to navigate caring for your elderly parent, we’re here to talk. Not sure exactly what type of support you’re looking for, but know you could use a knowledgeable listening ear?

We offer tailored caregiver assessments — plus actionable support — completely free of charge.

Simply call us at 855-461-2552 or send us a message, anytime.

The post 6 Biggest Challenges Facing Seniors Today appeared first on Benton House.