Signs Your Loved One Might Need A Bit More Support At Home

 If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether a parent, grandparent, or other loved one might need more support at home, you’re not alone. The fact is that it doesn’t always look like one big dramatic moment when you know you need to do something - sometimes it’s just small things that you can’t quite put your finger on, but you know it’s potentially an issue. 

For example they might still be getting dressed, cooking meals, answering the phone, and so on, but something could still feel off… and often, that’s exactly where the conversation should begin. So with that in mind, keep reading for some signs that might help you know when it’s time to have a chat. 

Photo by Matthias Zomer

Little Things Add Up

It’s the little things that could be the first sign, but because they are little, they’re often quite hard to spot at first. We’re talking about things like unopened post building up in the hallway, or perhaps they’ve got a few more bruises on their arms and when you ask about them, they mention a few falls. And that’s always going to be worrying, no matter who they are or what your relationship is. Something else that’s worrying is if they’re losing a lot of weight, or the things they used to love seem to be too much effort. 

In the end, these aren’t giant red flags, but they are little signals and clues that your loved one might be finding the day-to-day bits of life just a bit harder than before (although they’d probably never admit it). 

They’re Not So Social Anymore

Another thing to look for is whether they’re withdrawing a bit more - in other words, if someone who used to enjoy meeting friends or popping to the shops is now spending all day indoors, it’s worth asking why. Sometimes it’s because they’re tired, sometimes it’s their mobility, and sometimes it’s because simple things now feel quite overwhelming. 

The problem is that loneliness can definitely creep in and it can be a real problem for older people, especially if they’re also beginning to lose their independence. If you think your loved one is getting lonely, be aware that it can definitely impact their mental health. 

Important Conversations 

If you’ve noticed any little things that could be signs of bigger things, bringing up the topic of help isn’t always easy, but it is important. The fact is that no one likes the idea of giving up control, and most people - especially older adults - have always been the ones taking care of others, so it’s a challenge to let others help them. 

Having support from a good home care agency could be the answer here. They won’t suddenly come in and take away anything from your loved one, and instead they’ll be there to help and support them, so their independence can stay in one piece, and they’ll get help where they need it. A lot of people find it’s the perfect way to bridge the gap when older people start to need a bit of help but aren’t at a point where they have to move out of home just

How to Combat Chronic Anxiety

 One of the most overwhelming and debilitating conditions out there is chronic anxiety. Having that constant feeling of fear and dread can really interfere with your daily activities and significantly reduce your quality of life. 

There are traditional treatments out there such as therapies and medications that can help to manage your anxiety day to day, but many individuals do choose to seek alternative options to supplement or replace conventional methods. Clinics like Alternaleaf Clinic provide a natural solution for anxiety relief. It's important to explore a variety of strategies for combating chronic anxiety so that you can find what works for you. Here are some ways that you can combat chronic anxiety.

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• Understand your anxiety. Before you can truly dive into any treatment options available to you, you have to understand what anxiety is and how it's going to affect you. Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but when it becomes chronic, it disrupts your everyday functioning. It can physically manifest with symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, sweating, and muscle tension. Emotionally, chronic anxiety can create a constant state of fear, which can leave you feeling frozen in place.

• Research the traditional therapies and medication. Talking to your healthcare provider is your best bet here. The cornerstone of treating chronic anxiety has always been therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most popular ways to do it because it helps individuals to identify negative thought patterns and replace them with more constructive ones. Over time, this significantly reduces anxiety by changing the way somebody reacts to stressful situations in the first place.

• Take a look at natural remedies. Over the years, there has been a growing interest in alternative therapies and treatments for anxiety. One of these is medical marijuana, which has shown plenty of promise in studies to reduce anxiety symptoms for some individuals. Medical marijuana, particularly strains high in cannabidiol, have been shown to have calming effects without the psychoactive properties of THC.

• Start learning about meditation. Mindfulness and meditation are two very powerful tools when it comes to combating anxiety. These are practices that involve focusing on the present moment and help to quiet the mind. For those who are struggling with anxiety, incorporating mindfulness techniques into daily routines is incredibly beneficial.

• Make some lifestyle changes. Anxiety can often be worsened by poor lifestyle habits, so changes to daily routines can really have a high impact on anxiety levels. With regular physical activities such as yoga, walking, or swimming, you can significantly reduce anxiety and release endorphins into the bloodstream.

• Get a good night's sleep. Sleep is critical if you want to keep your anxiety at Bay. With a good night of sleep, you can feel more relaxed and that allows you to feel something other than fear. You may be an adult, but it's always a good idea to set yourself a bedtime routine so that you feel like you are in control of your anxiety. You don't have to panic about how you're feeling if you know that you're in control of some elements in life.

 

*This is a collaborative post*

 

 

Regaining Control Of Your Physical Health In Time For Summer

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Summer is fast approaching, but there’s still time to unlock improved physical health ahead of the warmer months. If you do, it should take your enjoyment to a whole new level. 

The first step is to take responsibility and set some goals for the weeks ahead. Focus on the following to improve your physical wellness and you should see truly stunning outcomes. 

Get fit

When thinking about improving your health for the summer, it’s hard not to think about the challenge of getting fit. Whether returning to exercise after a long break or wanting to unlock better results, upgrading your fitness strategy is the key. A clear and personalised plan that is tailored to your current condition can transform your life. You’ll feel more comfortable in your body and more confident in your appearance. 

Test your sight and hearing

Good eye health and hearing health will provide the foundation for a happier lifestyle. Given that you can get a free eye check and prescription, it would be foolish not to do it in the coming weeks. Even if you do not realise it, poor eyesight is holding you back. It impacts the way you interact with the world while also tiring you out due to straining the eyes. Similar results are seen if poor hearing goes untreated. So, be sure to book appointments ASAP.

Change sleeping habits

Addressing your sleep patterns is one of the smartest ways to improve your health. Sleep regulates your stress levels and energy while allowing your muscles to repair. Moreover, it takes up roughly one-third of your life. It only takes a few weeks to transform your routines and reap the rewards. Avoid screentime for an hour before bed and be sure to hit the sack at roughly the same time each night. This will improve your circadian rhythm and enhance your life.

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Avoid the wrong foods

Nutrition plays an integral role in general wellness for many reasons. It impacts body size, inflammation, skin conditions, and so much more. Ultimately, it is up to you to find a balance between nutritious foods and the tastes that you love. However, taking a food intolerance test will teach you which ingredients you may wish to avoid. This will help you avoid digestive issues and enjoy a better quality of life. 

Transform your oral hygiene routines

Many health issues stem from the mouth. Likewise, poor oral health can make you self-conscious. Whether it’s professional realignment or home whitening doesn’t matter. Going the extra mile to perfect your smile is one of the smartest decisions you’ll ever make. It also encourages you to adopt a better mindset, which makes it easier for you to implement further upgrades over the coming weeks and beyond.

Wear the right attire

Finally, you should note that the clothes you wear aren’t only for fashion purposes. They can have a lasting impact on many aspects of your health, ranging from posture to skin irritation. Wearing the appropriate attire for exercise is vital, with footwear choices playing a particularly key role. Getting properly measured for your clothes and underwear is crucial too. The right support without losing breathability will serve you well.

*This is a collaborative post*

How To Adapt To New Family Life After Loss

 

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It can be hard to experience loss, that much you likely know and won’t need an internet post to tell you. It can be tough to explain this outcome to our children, to learn life anew without a loved one, and sometimes, to deal with the lingering grief and pain that follows us.

But the truth is that there are too many guides on the internet dedicated to coping with loss and trying to take one step after another afterward. They’re all welcome, but you can only say the same thing so many times before you’re reiterating the same points repeatedly.

Sometimes, it’s better to come down to the brass tacks of what loss actually means, not what it feels like. That can lead to a hole-like feeling that needs to be filled, and not destructively with bad habits.

In other words, you, and your entire family, need to figure out how to adapt to new family life after loss. The easiest this can be is if you’ve had the good fortune of welcoming a new family member into the family as of late, be that through a marriage that caused a union through families, or perhaps your adult son or daughter bringing their own bundle of joy home through birth or adoption.

But of course, we can’t recommend you go out and do that as a loss-coping measure in this post. That would be strange, to say the least. However, we can offer other routes you may wish to take to help your loved ones adapt to a new normal and start to get back into the momentum of life, even after a central loss:

Fill The Time You Spent With Another Hobby Or Practice

When we lose someone close to us, we often notice the absence most during the times we would have spent together. This can look different depending on the person you’ve lost of course, but might involve a weekly phone call, Sunday dinners, or even just the little moments you used to fill with their presence now feel hollow. Perhaps you used to take your children to see their grandparents every Tuesday evening for three hours or so, and now you have that time to fill.

So, what would you like to do? There’s no real answer here, but it’s nice to have a craft or hobby that can help you avoid feeling the loss of time more acutely, after all, the loss of a habit is also part of the loss of a loved one. It’s true that they would like us to find something new and exciting to do in this time. 

So for example, you might help your children learn to bake in that time, or show your little one how to garden, or knit scarves for winter while you’re on the festive school break. This way, you can begin building the momentum of your life once more, as we mentioned above. Now, you don’t have to be quite so proactive and creative, perhaps just a nice walk in the park with the dog can be enough.

Memorialize Them For Closure

Now, forcing closure isn’t exactly advisable to anyone, even if we might want to seek it at any cost ourselves. But grief doesn’t tie itself up neatly, and there’s no “right” way to move on. That being said, creating a memorial can be a way to honor their life while giving yourself a small sense of closure too, and providers like Memorials.com can help you do so with tasteful and worthwhile tokens of love and appreciation.

For some that might involve a niche plaque on a wall of your household, or it could be a photo album filled with your favorite pictures, Maybe you’ll have a keepsake box with their letters and mementos, or even planting a tree in their honor. Some even name a star to honor them through an online observatory service. 

For some families, it might be dedicating a specific day each year to remember them, like a picnic in their favorite park or a toast at dinner. This last one might not seem like much, but think about it, if you were gone, would you want people to celebrate and raise a glass in your honor? Exactly, it can be quite heartfelt and loving to do this. 

In other words, having a little ritual can be nice and it’s a good way to remember your loved one with your family. Over time, that might help you move into the practical necessity of every day with a little more comfort.

Share Stories & Have Fun with Your Memories

Is there anything more pleasant and fun than sharing stories about someone you loved and having one of those awful snort-laughs because you can’t breathe with the hilarity of it? Okay, you might not look your best, but inside we can feel real joy.

Loss is a sad thing in general, perhaps mostly sad, but that doesn’t mean it’s 100% sad at all times with no reprieve. Keeping the memory of someone close to you can quite literally be the most nurturing thing you have. It can keep you strong during tough times, and it can remind you to be a little more focused and attentive in life. It might even help you be kinder and have more patience.

Reminding your children and family members of this can help you lighten the mood a little. That’s not to say you should force others to feel good of course, but it’s a nice reminder in a tough time. If you find yourself speaking to your relative in your quiet moments with the feeling they can hear you, well, you would be sharing a practice that most people engage in, even if we don’t really talk about it out loud.

With this advice, we hope you can become closer as a family unit and make the most of each day despite our loss. There are healthy lessons to learn in this practice, and you never know, you may find that the example they set helps sustain you over time.

*This is a collaborative post*