News and Blog

November 22, 2022

Less sunlight and shorter days are believed to trigger a chemical change in the brain resulting in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Seniors are more likely to exhibit SAD and it is important for caregivers and adult children to proactively mitigate the potential effects of this disorder on their elderly loved ones.

November 5, 2022

The end of Daylight Saving Time can significantly affect morning and evening activities, especially for seniors. Learn how to minimize the impacts of this change and prevent isolation or seasonal affective disorder for your elderly loved one. 

November 1, 2022

Rain, ice, snow, and frigid temperatures this season cause slip hazards, which are especially dangerous to the elderly. Check out this guide to home improvements that help minimize slips and falls around the home and ensure your senior family members and friends remain safe this winter.

October 3, 2022

As Winter peers over the horizon, senior homeowners in Clinton, Knoxville, Maryville and surrounding areas start thinking about winterizing their homes. While some of these tasks are easy to accomplish on your own, professionals may be better poised to take care of other items.  

September 16, 2022

Summer is coming to a close here in Greater Knoxville. While temperatures are still summer-hot, you can certainly see signs that fall is on its way. That also means it's time to enjoy all the locally-grown late summer produce. Make sure you know what's in season, then head to your local grower, farm stand, or grocery store that offers locally-grown produce. Stock up and enjoy some delicious healthy snacks made from end-of-summer produce.

September 2, 2022

Dogs are great companions, and studies have shown that owning a dog can lower your blood pressure while also reducing stress and anxiety levels. They are also a great way to stay active later in life. Among senior pet owners, nearly 70% own senior dogs. Dogs of all sizes require daily exercise, encouraging you to reach fitness goals by building an exercise routine around their need for activity. It's also a great way to bond with your canine companion.

August 18, 2022

Video games aren't just for kids. Studies have shown that they may also be highly beneficial for older adults. Computer and video games for seniors may help with their cognitive and emotional skills. The key to gaining these benefits is choosing the right game type and knowing how to keep older adults safe from potential scams.

August 9, 2022

Aside from the holiday season, summertime is often the busiest time of the year for caregivers. There are many events in the summer, such as BBQs in Knoxville, festivals in Clinton, and outdoor markets in Maryville. These can be great opportunities to break up the monotony of the care routine. However, all of those activities can put extra strain on the caregiver. Taking care of yourself in the summer months is critical for your well-being as well as for the older adults in your care. Here are five self-care tips for caregivers to help you get through the heat of the summer and enjoy everything this season has to offer.

July 14, 2022

As summer temperatures start to soar in Tennessee, it's important to protect older adults from the dangers of heat stroke and heat stress. As we get older, our ability to handle high temperatures decreases. Health conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure can make older adults more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Certain medications can also interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature. As a caregiver in the Knoxville area, it's essential to carefully monitor the older adults in your life for signs of heat stress and heat stroke and know how to respond appropriately.

July 13, 2022

When caring for a loved one, you will probably need to decide who does what chores. When our parents get older, they may not be able to handle all chores as easily as they used to. Painful joints and difficulties in stretching mean that tasks such as scrubbing walls or polishing the floor become impossible. When you are faced with that kind of decision, there are three options that are open to you.

July 12, 2022

Swimming is an excellent addition to any fitness routine, but it can be especially beneficial for older adults. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that's gentle on the joints while improving heart health, increasing flexibility, and strengthening bones. It also works for all muscle groups while having a generally low risk for injury compared to other forms of exercise. Plus, it's a great way to stay cool during those hot Tennessee summers. 

June 14, 2022

Managing the changes in mobility, coordination, and cognition that Parkinson's disease causes are always easiest with help. Unfortunately, as this illness progresses, the level of help that's required often exceeds the limitations of untrained professionals.

May 25, 2022

Your loved ones may be more at risk for dehydration than you realize. While the signs of it are easy to notice in adults and children, they can be harder to spot in seniors. However, even mild dehydration can pose serious health risks to senior loved ones, so it's important to keep an eye out for these common warning signs that may be taking their toll on them

May 13, 2022

Unfortunately, as people get older, they become more at risk for malnutrition. Seniors, who do not get the amount of nutrients that their body needs, are at risk for several things, many of which are life-threatening.

April 21, 2022

Certified Nursing Assistants, or CNAs, work under the direct, or indirect, supervision of a team supervisor to complete versatile and varied responsibilities that are needed to support a patient and increase their quality of life as they age, or during the recovery of an illness or injury.

March 25, 2022

As we age, it sometimes gets difficult to do things that once came easily to us. Basic tasks like cooking, cleaning, and keeping up with housework can become daunting, especially when you have a medical condition. But luckily, a professional caregiver can help seniors continue to live independently! When it comes to choosing a professional caregiver, there are a lot of options out there. Of course, you want to pick what's right for you or a loved one, so it's important to be informed. Let's take a closer look at the professional caregiving options available to you: private caregivers or an agency.

February 11, 2022

Even though self-driving comes with freedom, it might expose you to safety risks for older drivers. Old age comes with health-related issues and other physical incapacities. The good news is that you can track any changes in physical fitness, eyesight, and how you adjust to driving and road safety requirements.

January 24, 2022

It can be so hard to ask for help sometimes, especially when you get older. It's natural for a child to need help making their lunch, but an adult, who has done this their entire life, has a hard time accepting that they could, or should, no longer do so for themselves. Change can hurt and it can be scary. Our aging loved ones are going to reach a point where they will need us, and our help, more and more. You will inevitably meet resistance to care, if not in entirety, to any changes that limit a person's independence.

January 10, 2022

The New Year's holiday has always been about new beginnings and new goals to work towards. It doesn't matter how old or how young we are, change is inevitable, and it's easier for us to implement when such changes are our decisions, based upon our personal hurdles. This is the perfect time to approach what is lacking in our lives and change it with an awesome and supportive plan of action.

December 27, 2021

According to research by PEW in 2019, the number of senior internet users was 73%, up from 14% in 2000. Also, the number of older adult smartphone users was 53%. That said, COVID-19 pushed the reliance on technology, with requirements like social distancing. Caregivers often had to rely on technology to monitor their loved ones and keep them safe.

December 14, 2021

Hospital readmissions remain high in the United States, especially for seniors. A whopping 34% of hospital discharges will be readmitted within 90 days. While billions of dollars in taxpayer money are lost on these readmissions, in many cases they are preventable. Proper discharge planning promotes timely and safe patient transfer between care levels and across care settings. This is especially true during discharge from a skilled nursing facility to community settings or a home. However, with proper discharge protocols and trained caregivers for seniors, ER visits reduce.

November 18, 2021

November 4, 2021

At Senior Helpers, we care for seniors in the comfort of their own homes. We tailor our services to meet your specific needs and provide everything from companion care for those who need daily assistance to specialized Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's care. But why do we do what we do? Read on to find out.

October 22, 2021

If you are a U.S. armed service Veteran, you can attest to how challenging life can be. Most Veterans suffer from diverse challenges. For instance, many are in dire need of help with basic life aspects, such as running errands, companionship, meal preparation, transport from one area to the other, and general care. Fortunately, if you are housebound or in need of help, you may be eligible for the VA Aid and Attendance program.