General - Buddy Services for Seniors

Posted on March 15, 2023March 15, 2023 by Buddy Services

Seniors in a Digital World

As the world becomes more digital, the use of technology is becoming increasingly important for people of all ages. Seniors, in particular, can benefit greatly from the use of apps that are designed to help them stay connected, healthy, and entertained. In this article, we will discuss the importance of apps for seniors and provide some app suggestions that are specifically designed to meet their needs.

The Importance of Apps for Seniors

Apps can be a valuable tool for seniors as they provide an easy and accessible way for them to stay connected to their loved ones, manage their health, and engage in various activities. Many seniors may find it challenging to keep up with new technology and may feel intimidated by it. However, apps that are designed with seniors in mind are usually user-friendly and straightforward to use, making them an excellent resource for those who may not be tech-savvy.

Apps can also help seniors stay connected with family and friends. For example, video calling apps like Skype and Zoom can help seniors stay in touch with loved ones who may live far away. Social media apps like Facebook and Twitter can also help seniors stay connected with friends and family and keep up with current events.

Another important aspect of apps for seniors is their potential to help manage health. Many apps are available that can help seniors monitor their medications, track their physical activity, and manage chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. These apps can help seniors take control of their health and live a more active and healthy lifestyle.

App Suggestions for Seniors

Lumosity: This app is designed to help seniors keep their minds sharp and improve their cognitive abilities. Lumosity offers a wide range of games and puzzles that are scientifically designed to challenge the brain and improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.

Silver Surf: This app is designed to make it easier for seniors to use technology. It offers a simplified interface that is easy to use, along with large buttons and text that make it easier to navigate. Silver Surf also provides tutorials and tips to help seniors get the most out of their devices.

Pillboxie: This app is designed to help seniors manage their medications. It provides reminders to take medications at the right time and also provides information about the medication, including dosages and potential side effects.

Fitbit: This app is designed to help seniors stay active and healthy. It tracks physical activity, including steps taken and calories burned, and provides personalized fitness goals and challenges to keep seniors motivated.

Words with Friends: This app is designed to help seniors stay connected with friends and family through a fun and challenging game. It is similar to Scrabble and can be played with anyone who has the app, regardless of where they are located.

Apps can be a valuable resource for seniors as they provide an easy and accessible way for them to stay connected, manage their health, and engage in various activities. The apps discussed in this article are just a few examples of the many apps that are available to seniors. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that more apps will be developed that are specifically designed to meet the needs of seniors.

Posted on December 15, 2022December 15, 2022 by Buddy Services

Is Assisted Living Right For You?

For many of us, growing older means more freedom. And while we all value our independence, there may come a time when we can no longer be our sole caretakers. But is assisted living the answer? Today, Buddy Services shares a post that may help you decide on your future living arrangements.

When Is Assisted Living The Right Choice?

There are many reasons that you might consider assisted living. Key of these is your health. Assisted living may be a good fit if you just need a helping hand with things like transportation and housekeeping. If you are at risk of serious mobility issues, Alzheimer’s, or other issues that might cause you to need 24/7 care, look for an independent living community that will allow you to segue into skilled nursing care, if needed.

Before you make any type of a decision, look at assisted living centers in your area. There are probably many options to choose from, and plenty of resources for helping you determine the cost, quality, and potential quality of living. Make a point to tour multiple facilities before you sign an agreement.

A few reasons to consider assisted living now include feelings of social isolation, the need for compassionate care, and a desire for independence without the need to cook and clean for yourself.

And if you’re a business owner, you might be concerned about how to sell this business you’ve probably built from the ground up, and experiencing some anxiety about what will happen to it. On the other hand, you might also be looking forward to retiring – especially if you can leave your business in good hands, and in so doing, generate enough from the sale to more than cover your living expenses.

Affordability

Senior care facilities are typically not covered by insurance. For this reason, most individuals can expect to spend anywhere from a low base rate of $800 per month up to $7700 per month or more, according to Brookdale Senior Living. Because the cost is so high, it’s also not uncommon to have to sell a home to afford assisted-living care. If you choose to go this route, spend some time looking at your local real estate market to see how much you can expect to pull in equity from your existing home.

What To Look For

When it’s time to begin vetting independent living campuses, start by identifying your top three needs. For most, this is location, cost, and services. U.S. News & World Report also lists the culture and, of special importance since the dawn of the pandemic, infection control protocols. You may also look for a facility with access to transportation on demand, that has an on-site barbershop, or, if you are still interested in nightlife, an in-house bar.

Importantly, you’ll also need to ask about visitation policies. If your children and grandchildren live close by, you’ll want to know that they can visit often and with few restrictions. If your facility must restrict indoor visitors for any reason, confirm that there are plenty of outdoor spaces where you can picnic or simply enjoy an afternoon stroll.

Watch For Red Flags

For-profit assisted living centers will do anything to get new people through the doors. Unfortunately, you can’t always rely on clever marketing. No matter how good it looks “on paper,” don’t overlook red flags, such as residents that show signs of poor hygiene or that appear to be malnourished. Ultimately, the decision to move into assisted living is a deeply personal choice that must be made by all individuals facing the situation. There is no right answer or wrong answer for anyone. Thankfully, there are plenty of tools that can help you read reviews before you tour your preferred facilities.

Buddy Services is a safety net for seniors and people with medical conditions or anyone in need of companionship. Questions? We’d love to hear from you!

Written by: Hazel Bridges

Image via Pexels

Posted on February 12, 2021February 16, 2021 by Buddy Services

Save Our Seniors (SOS)

By Carol Royer

In the midst of the novel Coronavirus and the stay-at-home order, the elderly population is feeling the brunt of it all and seems to have been forgotten.

The Coronavirus pandemic has been extremely difficult for seniors to navigate in many ways. Social isolation amongst seniors is on the rise, and now with the stay-at-home order, we are very concerned that more and more seniors will have to endure severe isolation without our services. “There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase the risk for premature mortality and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that of many leading health indicators,” HoltLunstad says.

On a daily basis, our organization receives calls from agencies such as TC-LHIN, ESS Support, TCHC; MPP’s office, family members, and friends pleading for our assistance for their loved ones. I am the Executive Director at Buddy Services Centre for Seniors and I can tell you that in a one-month span our clientele has doubled. It breaks my heart every day when I pick up the phone and listen to the caller on the other side of the phone expressing their fears and concerns and wonders if they will make it.

One of the calls I happen to pick up last week was from a social worker who was requesting service for her client who lives alone, is diagnosed with cancer, and is in pain continually. I told the social worker that we weren’t taking any new clients but I could go through the intake process with her client, but she will have to be placed on our waitlist, she agreed. I called her to conduct the intake and after listening to her I hung up the phone and I wept. I did not cry just for her, I cried for all the seniors whose life hangs in the balance. During the intake, the individual told me that she was contemplating assisted suicide because the pain and the isolation were too much to bear.

I had a gentleman called last week, asking for companionship for his wife in the event that he passes away, he doesn’t want her to be lonely and alone. A daughter-in-law in Ottawa called requesting companionship care for her mother-in-law who lives in Toronto alone and is in dire need of companionship care, a husband who does not live with his wife requesting transportation to and from a doctor’s appointment for his wife because she does not speak English and he is not able to assist her. We have seniors who are blind and is trapped in their own home because they are too afraid to go to the grocery store to buy groceries – a new service we now provide.

When are we as a society going to place real value on the lives of the elderly population? According to Stats Canada, there were 6,835,866 seniors aged 65 and older in Canada on July 1, accounting for 18.0% of the population, compared with 6,038,647 children aged 0 to 14, accounting for 15.9% of the population.

Close to ninety percent of the seniors who are receiving our services would not be able to afford it if they had to pay out of their own pocket. Clients receiving our services is covered by the COVID-19 ECSF a grant provided by the United Way and expires March 31, 2021, after that date I can almost guarantee you that we will see the death toll rise due to loneliness amongst seniors. I am pleading to all levels of governments to please Save our Seniors, this is an SOS call for help.