Companionship for the Lonely

“The days are fine, it’s the nights alone I don’t like!”  Says Bill, who lost his wife 6 months ago.  “I miss Gladys, because we would watch Wheel of Fortune and play cards after supper.  Now the evenings are so quiet!”

Many of our clients have family living in the same city, but they have children of their own, two jobs, a dog and so many other extra curricular things happening in their lives. It is a breath of relief for families to have someone else provide the companionship and friendship a care aide or companion can bring to their parent.

Providing a companion to sit with Bill for a couple of hours in the evening can complete his life.  Like Bill told us, he has music, walks, bus rides, outings with his friend, and at least one or two activities per day, but having the extra at night would complete his life.

Often the senior is isolated even in their own community.  They may live in assisted living in their own apartment, however the only contact they may have with each-other is at meal times.  June was too weak to go to her meals for a few weeks and had her meals delivered.  She said, that no one just stops in to see how she is doing, and she can be days without seeing anyone.

Bill has a family friend, Betsy that takes him out during the day.  He remarks “I don’t know what I’d do without Betsy (he has 3 daughters).  If Gladys hadn’t arranged that Betsy look out for me after she passed, I just don’t know what I would have done.”

Betsy not only takes Bill to doctor’s appointments, but sees that his dentures are reworked so he can chew his food, picks him up for a drive when she takes her 5 kids on after school activities such as violin and piano lessons, and goes on long drives on sunny days.  One day she told the office, “Bill’s with me now for a gourmet lunch – hotdogs!”  Because she is surrounded by children under 12, they call him Grandpa Bill, and his heart is so warmed by the attention.

The senior doesn’t rely so heavily on the family to provide those same pieces of assistance, meaning that when family visit it’s a fun time to share with children and grandchildren.

Providing a companion to our lonely seniors is so rewarding.  Not only can we provide that companionship, but we can go shopping, to the library, visit the doctor or dentist, arrange for the garburator to be fixed and flip the fuse that operates the stove.

 

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Post Surgery Exercise – 5 reasons to utilise a Medical Exercise Specialist

The increase in chronic diseases has heightened the need for supervised exercise programming for clients after their discharge from rehabilitation services or hospital. The Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) is uniquely trained to provide post rehab and medical exercise services to a wide range of clients with medical needs.

There are a number of reasons to utilize the MES when planning the discharge of clients in need of supervised exercise programming.  The fact is that Client’s returning home from hospital after post-hip or knee surgery may be in a weakened state requiring not only exercise therapy but post-surgical care whether temporarily or ongoing.

With exactly this combination of MES and Caregiving which included home supports, one of the Clients raved about her experience.  She had just returned home after a knee replacement and sent this remark: “ Had I not had the help of Sonja daily, supervising my exercises, timing me, assisting with bathing, home support and groceries, I would not have been camping two months later.  The fact that Sonja could do all those things in a two hour window daily, meant so much more to me than just requiring the home support on its own.  Thanks to Sonja, I am encouraged as I await my next knee replacement”

Here are 5 good reasons to implement exercise for the senior returning from surgery:

  1. The MES is trained to develop conditioning programs for a wide range of Clients with musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological disorders
  2. The MES is trained to identify “red flags” which indicate the Client is inappropriate for exercise and/or requires a referral to a medical professional.
  3. The MES understands how to screen the Client to identify any potential problem areas that may be exacerbated by exercise.
  4. Utilizing a MES after discharge will improve the Client’s functional capacity and minimize the possibility of re-injury.
  5. The MES not only develops the Client’s conditioning program but is also able to establish a wellness program that will enhance the Client’s overall level of health and well being.

Medical Exercise when combined with Caregiving can ensure the Client recovers quickly, safely and return to their daily activities sooner.

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