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Caregivers are the Greatest

Donna Nichols • May 11, 2023

My 95-year-old mother recently had a five-day hospital stay. It’s so hard to see someone you love just lying there unable to do anything for themselves and having to rely on someone else for everything. I learned real quickly what caregivers go through daily and how hard it is for them. I am one of the lucky ones as I had help, which most caregivers don’t; they are generally all by themselves caring for their loved one and I don’t know how they do it.


 My mother is the type of person who never gets sick, so when she ended up in the hospital it really scared a lot of people. She takes two pills a day and at 95-years-old, that’s amazing! Of course, she has the normal age-related declination, losing her eyesight, not so steady on her feet, etc., but overall, she is very healthy.


The nurses at the hospital were so caring and helpful, I couldn’t have done it without them. I basically slept in the bed with her for the first two nights and was there for at least twelve hours the other three days and nights. We didn’t call the nurses for everything because I was there, so I got a glimpse into the world of caregiving and let me tell you, it is HARD WORK!


You don’t sleep, you don’t eat well, you stress all the time, it takes a toll on your body physically and mentally and when you finally get a break, your loved one is all you think about. I did things I never knew I could do, I just did them. My sister was just sitting there watching me do everything and my mom says, “Well, she doesn’t know what to do.” All I could think of was, neither do I, mom, neither do I, but I’m doing it.


I have never been so exhausted and felt so fulfilled in my life at the same time. Yet I want to scream at the top of my lungs and cry hysterically. I also want to laugh and yell about all the joy I feel from bonding so much with her. What a roller coaster of emotions that goes through you at a time like this. I only had five days of caregiving and had help; I can’t imagine doing this on a full-time basis with no one to assist me. If you know someone who is a caregiver, PLEASE reach out to them and offer them a break, they REALLY need it!


I must really applaud the caregivers, whether they be in the form of nurses, personal assistants, or family members, in this world! Where would we be without you? All I have to say about the caregivers in this world is that you all ROCK!! You are the best; you work tirelessly and give 100% of yourselves every day!


THANK YOU!

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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