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Live-In Care – Helping You Stay Healthy And Happy In Winter

Information about live-in care and how it can help ensure the mental health and physical health of a client in winter.

In winter, around 1 in every 3 people suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). And throughout the year 1 in 4 people suffer issues relating to mental illness. Any person of any age can suffer from mental illness.

The elderly though, are particularly vulnerable when it comes to mental illness. The risk can come from the elderly populations sense of pride, feeling that there is a stigma associated with mental illness and so they don’t seek help. It can be because they think they should just ‘get on with it’ and don’t want a fuss. They may be more susceptible because of the potential for losing a partner, losing friends or having to leave their home. There is also something to say for the elderly sometimes being the forgotten when it comes to mental health. In some situations there may be budget and time restrictions so that the person’s physical health is prioritised, and there just isn’t time for a conversation where a person can discuss their day let alone discuss how they are feeling.

Live-in Care And Mental Health

Live in care can help with mental health in lots of ways. On a basic level, the day to day tasks we do to feel better about ourselves, can be completed. Cleaning, personal care, making meals – they can all be taken care of so there is an overall better sense of wellbeing. Having somebody to talk to every day can also be of great help when it comes to problems like depression or anxiety. A problem shared is a problem halved and, having someone to confide in can be such a help. A live-in carer can also help with building the confidence of their client, helping them with mobility and feeling confident getting around. Socially, a live-in carer can also help to connect their client with local social groups of people with similar interests and of a similar age which can be a huge mood booster.

Over winter, mental health can be a particular issue for the elderly who may feel more isolated than usual, so having the right sort of elderly care can be extra important during the colder months.

As well as mental-health issues, the elderly can also be vulnerable to physical health issues, especially in winter. Slips and falls, problems with staying warm in and out of the house, arthritis pain, a harder working heart because of the cold and various other physical health issues and risks mean that the elderly need additional support in winter. Nutrition is a particularly big problem in winter as a person may struggle to get out and buy groceries for nutritious meals, or they may feel too low to even bother eating.

Live-in Care And Physical Health

Live-in care can be exceptionally helpful when it comes to helping an older person maintain good physical health. They can help provide nutritious meals, help support exercise regimes, they can help with mobility and getting a person to doctors appointments. A live-in carer is there to help a person maintain their independence as much as possible and to help their client be as healthy as possible. A live-in carer will also coordinate medicine timetables and ensure their client gets to hospital and doctors appointments. They will also coordinate visits from NHS nurses if the client requires additional medical support.

Live-in Care: Helping You Stay Healthy And Happy In Winter

Live-in carers are there to help with mental and physical health which often relate to each other. For a cost comparable and sometimes favourable to residential care, a person can stay in their own home and live the most independent life possible with their physical health and mental health needs tended to. Live-in care not only supports the health of the client, but in many cases, enhances it for a better quality of life in winter, and all year round