Fear Factors for Seniors [Home Instead]

New Research Shows a Lack of Activity Threatens Local Seniors' Independence.

Home Instead have been caring for seniors for 16 years globally through over 900 franchised offices.

This is a difficult and challenging time for your loved one and your family.  It’s our goal to assist you in any way we can to provide quality and trusted in-home care for those in need.

Fear of frailty is of paramount concern not only for Auckland area seniors, but those local adults aged 35 to 65 – many of whom are daughters – worried about the health and safety of their older loved ones.   That’s according to results of a recent survey of seniors and adult children that reveals staying physically active is a major challenge for older adults.

Lack of activity can lead to a downward spiral of poor health resulting in frailty, a condition that threatens the mind, body and social life of older adults, according to senior care experts.

“We regularly see seniors who are literally trapped in their homes because they are too weak to perform many of the activities they need to remain safe and independent, or to even enjoy life,” said

Alison Thompson owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Mt Albert.  “That’s why staying active is viewed by so many as vital to healthy aging.  Differences in perceptions between family

Caregivers and seniors can make addressing these issues challenging for many families.”

This problem is what prompted Home Instead Senior Care to develop the Get Mom Moving Activity Calendar and Web site at www.getmommoving.com, both designed to help keep seniors engaged and fit.  These resources provide the tools by which seniors can fight frailty.

A recent national survey conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care® network found that 74 percent of seniors 65 and older say that staying physically active is a major challenge.  Adult caregivers see the problem as well:  82 percent of adult caregivers listed staying physically active as a top challenge for seniors with 90 percent of seniors in the survey saying, their greatest fear is loss of independence.

Senior Fear Factors:

Many of the fears that seniors experience relate to the biggest challenge they say they face: staying active.  Seniors have these fears about the future, beginning with the greatest fear and in descending order:

1. Loss of independence.
2. Declining health.
3. Running out of money.
4. Not being able to live at home.
5. Death of a spouse or other family member.
6. Inability to manage their own activities of daily living.
7. Not being able to drive.
8. Isolation or loneliness.
9. Strangers caring for them.
10. Fear of falling or hurting themselves.

To you it’s about making the right choice, when choosing a provider of Care for your loved one. Instead of stress, there’s Home Instead. We personalise our Care package to meet your needs.

Call us now for a FREE no obligation visit on 0800 464 663

For more information on our Care packages; you are welcome to contact us on www.aucklandhomeinstead.co.nz for more information or read about what the warning signs are for frailty.
 

Published 20th Aug 2010

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