Caregivers in Bernardsville NJ: Leisure Reading for Seniors

Has the loved one you have been doing the caregiving for seemed listless lately? Maybe they can’t get out of bed or off the couch as much as they’d like to, or maybe they are simply just bored with the same old routine. They need a hobby, something to stimulate their minds and hearts and imagination, and reading can be the perfect way to do that.

Reading has long been known as a way to escape without ever leaving your chair. You can sail across the world or fight dragons or grow up in a completely different household in a completely different life, all just through reading the words someone else wrote. Reading can be intoxicating, it can be freeing, and it could be exactly what your loved one needs to get their brain in shape, and their spirits lifted.

However, some seniors may find it difficult to read as they get older due to vision issues or other health problems. However, this doesn’t mean they have to stop doing it! Here are several different ways to read – at least one of them will be perfect for your loved one!

• Paperback or hardback books – These are your classic books, with the beautiful, musty scent of the pages and ink, and the comforting weight in your hands. These books can be taken nearly anywhere – you can put them in a purse or simply just carry them in your hands. These are the books your loved one will be most used to, so they may love them simply for the familiarity as well.
• Ebooks – Many seniors probably aren’t too enthusiastic about ebooks. But, they do have their benefits. For seniors with certain medical conditions that make it difficult to hold heavier things, ebooks can be a blessing. An ereader is usually much thinner and lighter than a paperback or hardback, and you only have to use one hand to hold it. You can even set it on your lap or another surface without worrying about it falling shut like a normal book would do.
• Audiobooks – For seniors with vision problems, audiobooks may be just what they are looking for. Audiobooks are just normal books read aloud on a tape, CD, or digital download and in many cases, they are read by voice actors who really make the story come alive with their entertaining or dramatic readings. This could be the perfect type of book for someone who misses reading because of problems with their eyes. It can help them to recapture that magic and feel much better.
• Reading out loud – As your loved one’s caregiver, you can also read books to them out loud if they don’t like any of these other options. Some people love hearing books read aloud by their loved ones. It is soothing, and a way for you both to bond.

No matter what vision or health issues your loved one may have, never believe that there is not a great book out there waiting for them. They may have to read it in a different way than they are used to, but that doesn’t have to make it any less enjoyable.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional caregiver in Bernardsville, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Caregiver in Bernardsville NJ

Being a family caregiver for your elderly parent can be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling decisions that you can make in your life. It can also be one of the most challenging and stressful. Feeling stress associated with managing the needs and challenges of an older adult is completely normal, but it can also put you mental, emotional, and physical health and wellbeing at risk. Identifying that you are going through stress and finding ways to deal with it is an important part of maintaining your own health and quality of life, and ensuring that you continue to be the best possible caregiver for your aging parent.

October 12 is International Moment of Frustration Scream Day. This is the perfect opportunity for you to take some time to yourself to acknowledge and relieve your stress so that you can have renewed focus and energy for your caregiver journey.

Use these tips to help you cope with caregiver stress on International Moment of Frustration Scream Day and any other day when you are feeling overwhelmed by your care responsibilities:

• Face your stress. For many caregivers, admitting that they are feeling stressed is the most difficult part of dealing with it. You might feel that stress is an indication that you do not want to be a caregiver or that you do not love your parent. This, however, is not the case. Stress is a natural response to additional burden and can actually be an indication that you care so much about your parent’s wellbeing that you are worrying yourself about it. Acknowledge this stress and admit to yourself that it is nothing to be ashamed of so that you can move forward.
• Scream it out. Take the name of the holiday seriously and give yourself permission to have one good scream to let out the tension. Of course, you do not want to scream at your aging parent or anyone else. Instead, scream into a pillow or in your car where you can get the benefit of this release without disturbing or disrupting others.
• Get active. Physical activity is a fantastic way to relieve stress and to keep it under control. When you are active your brain releases chemicals called endorphins that give you a calm, elevated feeling. Exercising can also be a release for tension and frustration that you have built up, giving you a healthy outlet for these emotions. Try finding a new type of physical activity that will challenge your body and your mind. This will give you the added benefit of distracting your thoughts away from the challenges and frustrations of your caregiver responsibilities so that you can give your mind a chance to heal.
• Consider respite care. Even the best caregiver sometimes needs a break. Respite care involves a home care provider stepping in to provide care on a temporary basis to ensure that care gaps are filled and that your parent’s routine is maintained as much as possible when you are unable to be there with your parent. This can mean a few hours so that you can attend a special event, or even a couple of days so that you are able to enjoy a much-deserved getaway.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional caregiver services in Bernardsville, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.