Category: Senior Care in Braintree MA

Elderly Care in Braintree MA: Senior Heat Bills

Is Your Parent Struggling to Pay the Heat Bill?

by RiversofHope017
Elderly Care in Braintree MA: Senior Heat Bills
Elderly Care in Braintree MA: Senior Heat Bills

With the temperatures falling, your aging parent may be starting to worry about the increased cost of their energy bill.

Some seniors have difficulty paying their heat bill because of a limited income. That can cause them to keep the temperature in the house set too low. According to the National Institutes of Health, older adults are at risk for hypothermia if the thermostat is set lower than 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Being exposed to temperatures lower than that for an extended period of time could result in hypothermia. Family caregivers who are trying to help their elderly parents lower their heating bills without lowering the thermostat may want to try some of the energy-saving tips below.

 

Take Advantage of Sunlight

During the day, open blinds and curtains to allow as much sunlight into the house as possible. This will naturally warm the house. Then, when the sun starts to go down, caregivers should close blinds and curtains again to trap the heat in, keeping the house warmer longer.

 

Make Use of Other Heat Sources

Although caregivers should remind their parents never to use the oven to heat the house, it’s okay to take advantage of certain activities around the house that generate heat. On a cold day, a family caregiver might want to spend the day at their parent’s house cooking multiple meals to freeze for later dates. The oven’s heat will warm up the house and the oven is being monitored because the caregiver is using it for cooking. Another way to add heat to the home is for the older adult to take a shower with the bathroom door open to release the heat into other parts of the house.

 

Encourage Seniors to Dress Warmly

Keeping the thermostat set at 68 degrees may still feel cold to your parents. To keep them feeling warmer and eliminate the need to turn up the heat, encourage your parents to dress in warm layers and wear socks in the house. If you’re concerned about them slipping while wearing socks, suggest that they also wear shoes or purchase socks with rubber grips on the bottom.

 

Turn Down the Water Heater

Turning the water heater down a few degrees can also save energy and lower the bill. If your parent’s water heater is set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, consider lowering the temperature to 120 degrees. Water will still be warm enough for a comfortable shower and to get dishes and clothing clean.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Elderly Care in Braintree, MA, call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. Providing Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. riversofhopes.com

 

Sources
Daveramsey.com
Today.com
Nih.gov

 

 

Senior Care in Braintree MA: Senior Loss of Mobility

Loss of Mobility- How To Ease This New Stage of Life

by Francineglide Victoria

Loss of mobility, which is common among adults receiving elderly care, can have profound social, psychological, and physical consequences.

 

Senior Care in Braintree MA: Senior Loss of Mobility
Senior Care in Braintree MA: Senior Loss of Mobility

 

Whether it’s losing longtime driving privileges, the inability to walk for distances, or becoming unable to walk at all, it can be disconcerting, confusing, and sad for seniors to lose the independence they once had.

-Social: Many seniors, like the rest of us, enjoy leaving their homes for social occasions such as games, events, and visits with family and friends. When they no longer have the ability to decide when, where, and how they can leave their home, it can feel like a major loss of control and contribute to feelings of isolation and missing out.

-Psychological: Seniors, even those receiving elderly care, are used to doing certain activities by themselves, and the loss of independence on any level can be daunting. What used to be easy tasks done alone now require assistance, which is frustrating.

-Physical: Elderly care patients commonly have physical limitations, but complete loss of mobility can be distressing to the senior as well as family members and caregivers. It can complicate simple daily tasks such as getting out of bed, bathing and getting to and from places outside of their homes, such as doctor visits and other appointments.

 

What you can do to help:

Be present. Make sure the caregiver understands your concerns and develop a plan to be proactive and present with your loved one. Make some extra visits and offer to get them out of the house as much as their condition allows.

Car rides, visits with friends, and taking them outside of their home can do wonders for elderly care patients who are looking for a change of scenery. If wheelchair accessibility is an option, and the weather allows, ask their caregiver to take them on short trips even just down the street.

 

Make sure you have the tools you need:

-Wheelchair: Depending on the level of care needed for your loved one, wheelchairs are a great option to be able to keep them mobile with the help of their caregiver. Sometimes this isn’t always the easiest option for some seniors who have health limitations or for homes without ramp access.

 

-Walker or cane: There are many types of walkers to choose from, so make sure you find the right fit for your loved one. Also, be sure that their caregiver understands any limitations with their mobility and the use of the walker or cane and how much assistance is needed when they are using it.

 

-Have a backup: Schedule a visit with your loved one’s doctors to discuss any ways that you can help them retain any mobility they are able to, with things such as exercises, therapy, and supplements that might be useful. Secure a plan of action and make sure your caregiver is kept informed and can help facilitate any plan of action.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Senior Care in Braintree, MA, call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. Providing Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. riversofhopes.com

 

Source:

Health.harvard.edu