Winter 2025

Hanover, MA: (781) 659-1877

269 Hanover St., Hanover, MA 02339

10 Ways to Help Seniors Deal with Isolation and Depression

As older adults progress through the years, they often experience significant life changes that make them more susceptible to depression.

For example, empty nesting, job loss or retirement, or the death of a spouse can all contribute to the loss of a sense of purpose and a feeling of emptiness.

While you may be unable to prevent your loved one(s) from experiencing difficult life situations, you don't have to stand by helplessly as you watch them struggle. Below are some ways caregivers can help seniors to better cope with isolation and depression:

1. Treat sleeping problems. Sleeping problems can aggravate depressive episodes. Unfortunately, many older adults who live alone are prone to both. The best way to help is to ensure they aren't taking lengthy daytime naps (a catnap or two is fine), keeping to a regular sleep schedule, and following proper sleep hygiene. If they suffer from sundowning, be prepared when dusk approaches by keeping them on a regular schedule, engaging them in interesting activities, and offering suitable medication.

2. Promote a sense of purpose. Those who have lost their sense of purpose in life tend to struggle more with depression. Please encourage them to take up a hobby or social activity, such as gardening, knitting, card playing, or volunteer work.

Learn more on our blog...

How to Talk to Someone with Alzheimer's

Those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's experience changes in their brains that affect their ability to listen, understand, and respond to normal conversation.

It's important to meet the person where they are, because once that piece of the person's brain has stopped working, it will never return to the way it was before. They can no longer process and retrieve information in the same way as they did in the past. Long, complex thoughts seem overwhelming because their brains are no longer able to process that much information at once.

For that reason, the best way to talk to someone with Alzheimer's is in short, direct sentences, with only one thought per sentence. Since they have less information to process that way, there's a greater chance that they'll actually understand what you're saying and will be able to reply appropriately.

Bear in mind that each individual with Alzheimer's or dementia will have a different level of cognitive impairment. You can experiment to figure out what approach works best for your older adult in various situations.

Be very conscious that you do NOT want to speak to them like a child. Communicate with respect, keeping the person with Alzheimer's dignity at the forefront.

It's important to use patience, clarity, and positive reinforcement. It can be helpful to make eye contact and use non-verbal cues, such as motions imitating the task you are requesting they compete.

Learn more on our blog...

Daily Senior Care Tip:

8 Tips to Get Someone with Dementia to Shower

Bathing is a constant struggle for many caregivers of seniors with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairments.

It's important to keep your older adult's body clean to prevent skin infections, reduce the risk of urinary tract infections, and avoid unpleasant body odor.

But trying to get them to take a bath or shower often results in arguments, hostility, crying, or screaming. So what can you do when someone with dementia refuses to shower?

Here are 8 tips to help you overcome their resistance to bathing. Experiment to find out which of these works best for your older adult.

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DailyCaring provides practical caregiving tips for everyday challenges even the most experienced caregivers face. We hope you enjoy the content (like the article above) as much as we do! Topics range from Alzheimer's/dementia tips to stress relief pointers.

Sign up for DailyCaring, a daily e-newsletter filled with helpful news you can use, and inspirational senior care tips! You can also follow the DailyCaring Facebook page.

Anniversary Celebrations!

Please join us in congratulating the following colleagues on their work anniversaries:

Shannon Jakas - 7 years

Karen Entrot - 5 years

Mary Grace - 5 years

Jennifer Sargent - 5 years

Gloria Finch - 4 years

Tonya Chipman - 3 years

Lidiia Leonchyk - 3 years

Tina Boslee - 2 years

Sharon Hunter - 2 years

Sandra Nunes-Dossantos - 2 years

Dorly Jean-Baptiste - 1 year

Camila Debarros - 1 year

Maria Amado - 1 year

Karina Blaquiere - 1 year

Lisa Casey - 1 year

Opal Stanley - 1 year

Nordia Whitely-Perkins - 1 year

Jody Batchelder - 1 year

Megan Matyjasik - 1 year

Nathacha Joseph - 1 year

Simone Nunes - 1 year

Kimberly Sivels - 1 year

Super Star Students!

We encourage our caregivers to complete monthly online trainings developed by the Massachusetts Home Care Alliance. Doing so will help equip you with the latest education and information available on industry-specific topics.

For example, January's focus was on Home Safety, a vital area of focus for ensuring the well-being of our clients and their families.

Topics in January's educational newsletter included Home Safety Measures, Safe Practices for Clients with Alzheimer's Falls Prevention, Fire and Burn Prevention, Safe Use of Cleaning Products, Winter Safety Tips, and Infection Control Safety.

The trainings are not very time-intensive and can easily fit into your schedule. They consist of perusing the monthly newsletter and then taking an assessment to test your retention of the material.

As you invest in your education, the quality of care you deliver will be enhanced. These resources are tailored to provide you with essential knowledge and skills, helping you excel in your role!

Inspirational Quote

"Kindness can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light. You'll never know how much your caring matters."

~ Amy Leigh Mercree

Feeling Festive!

We hope your holidays were as merry as our Cahoon crew was!

Hanover office

Maine office

Laughter:

The Best Medicine

Caregiving can be both rewarding, challenging, and at times funny!

A couple of our clients recently passed along these humorous stories:

A 91-year-old woman who suffers from Alzheimer's disease also had a distended abdomen from a hiatal hernia, misshapen feet from having worn ill-fitting shoes, and scars from a mastectomy. (She could also lose a few pounds.) Her daughter overheard her telling her caregiver while bathing, "Don't be jealous of my body!"

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(The following conversation took place between a client and his son and daughter-in-law.) One night at the dinner table, the client (who has dementia) asked his son if he and his wife were married. After they told him they were, he started singing, "All I want for Christmas is my mem-or-ree!" We're glad he can laugh about this!

Please keep sharing your funny stories. Thank you for bringing love and light to our clients! Remember - "don't take life too seriously or you'll never get out of it alive!"

Winter Tips for Seniors

This time of year poses certain risks for seniors, such as hypothermia, isolation, or falls due to black ice or snow.

This helpful article from FEMA provides helpful and practical winter safety tips for older adults.

Additionally, many seniors spend more time indoors during the cold season, increasing their chance of getting bored or feeling lonely.

Check out this fantastic list of unique indoor activities, and encourage your older adult to try some of them!

Video Tips: The Balancing Act of Senior Care

It's important for caregivers to treat their seniors as adults and respect the fact that they get to make their own decisions - even if they're bad decisions.

This might include allowing them to smoke or drink, or even eat sweets as a diabetic.

Caregivers should be conscious to not try to take away quality and comfort during this season of life.

Trying to keep seniors from bad choices may end up adding a week of life at the end, but at the expense of enjoying their remaining days.

Learn more in this video.

$$$ Referral Bonus Recipients $$$

Don't forget that we offer a $300 referral bonus. We know the best caregivers know the best caregivers! Please send them our way, and in turn, we'll send money your way.

Call Tammie at (207) 610-3280 in Maine, or Karen at (781) 635-4968 in Massachusetts with your referrals.

This past quarter, we had two referrals:

Eliane Da Silva (referred by Veronica Sour)

Monique Hume (referred by Colleen Green)

We're excited to announce 9 new members of the Cahoon Care team over the past quarter:

Caryl Carby

Drew Fletcher

Naysia Goncalves

Cadence Graves

Colleen Green

Monique Hume

Patricia Jamina

Kaylee Marcoux

Diane Merrill

National Caregiver's Day Message

On this National Caregiver's Day, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate you. Your dedication, kindness, and unwavering commitment to caring for others make an incredible difference in the lives of so many.

Being a caregiver is not just about providing support - it's about bringing comfort, dignity, and a sense of security to those who rely on you. Your work is deeply meaningful, and we know that it takes a special kind of person to do what you do. Whether you are offering companionship, assisting with daily tasks, or simply being there to listen, your impact is profound.

At Cahoon Care Associates, we are beyond grateful to have such compassionate and devoted caregivers as part of our team. We see and appreciate the hard work, patience, and love you bring to your role every day. Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed - you are valued, and respected, and truly make the world a better place.

Thank you for all that you do, today and always. Wishing you a wonderful National Caregiver's Day!

With gratitude,

Margery, Carolyn, Allan, Sara, Pippa, Tammie, Brianna, Karen, Jel, and Stephanie