Avoiding Isolation: Helping Your Senior Feel Involved During the Holiday Season

By Jim Smeaton
Seniors, particularly those who live alone or reside far away from their families, often tend to feel lonely. This is very true during the holidays, when families are expected to spend time with one another and reminisce on all of the great memories they have shared. Even if they live near their families, and get to see their loved ones often, elderly individuals may feel nostalgic during the holidays and, as a result of mourning the passage of so many years, tend to become isolated. The home care professionals at Always Best Care of Western NC, serving Asheville, Hendersonville, and surrounding western North Carolina communities, know that nostalgia and loneliness are natural feelings; however, they are also aware of the importance of including your senior in your holiday plans. 

In some situations, it may be easy to ensure that your elderly loved one is involved in holiday celebrations; in others, though, it may prove a challenge to plan festivities in which your senior can participate. Here are some ways to help you ensure that your loved one is engaged in the season. 

• Coordinate transportation for your senior with other family members. In so doing, you can make certain that your loved one has a way to attend family get togethers.
• Make sure that your senior has a comfortable place to rest during holiday parties. For instance, if you are hosting a party that will take place in the living room, have your senior sit on a comfortable couch or chair so they can be part of the festivities. 
• If your loved one owns a home and cannot attend family celebrations, bring the party to them. For instance, have family members meet at your senior's home on Thanksgiving morning. Have the adults do the cooking while your elderly loved one is able to spend time with their grandchildren and other family members. After dinner, be sure to clean up and leave the house as you found it. This way, your loved one is involved in the festivities but does not have to strain themselves to host a party. 

The senior care professionals at Always Best Care of Western NC know that the holidays can become a bit lonely for seniors, who may feel isolated from their loved ones. By putting in a bit of extra effort, you can plan holiday celebrations that your entire family will enjoy.

We have many videos available to you regarding senior issues, view them here.

Finding the right care is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Jim Smeaton  and the professionals at Always Best Care of Western North Carolina at (828) 989-7263 or visit their website.

Socialization: An Important Aspect of Successful Elder Care

By Jim Smeaton
Elder care encompasses many different facets of care, including attention to the physical, emotional, and mental needs of seniors. In creating a well-rounded care plan for elderly individuals, professional home care providers often ensure that socialization is included in their recommendations and weekly activities.  Socialization is an important part of maintaining an active lifestyle.  The senior care professionals at Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville, which serves Asheville, Hendersonville and the surrounding western North Carolina communities, understand that maintaining a full social life is important in helping seniors sustain their overall well-being.

Knowing the importance of socialization and understanding how to integrate it into your elderly loved one’s life are two completely different tasks.  Many caregivers find it difficult to answer to the social needs of their seniors because they are not sure how to balance all of their responsibilities.  Providing senior care is a very important task, one that requires a great deal of time and effort on behalf of the caregiver.  To help you best manage your elderly loved one’s social needs, here are a few tips for creating the socialization your senior deserves:

•    Encourage your loved one to join an interest group.  Be it a book club, a photography group, etc., it will help your senior make new friends, work on a beloved hobby, and make and achieve goals.

•    If your elderly loved one is religious, assist them in finding a church, synagogue, or other group that they enjoy.  The fellowship that these organizations provide is important to their members, and helps seniors stay social and active in the community.

•    At least once per week, if the budget permits, take your elderly loved one out for lunch or dinner.  This change of pace will allow both of you to relax and enjoy one another’s company.  To make it more of a social event, invite friends or family members to join.

•    Offer to provide transportation to and from social events.  A lack of transportation is what keeps many seniors from participating in social activities.  If possible, arrange for a carpool with other members of the group your loved one has joined.


Senior socialization is one of many issues facing many families across the US today as its largest generation reaches their golden years.  We at Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville are attuned to your needs and equipped with the knowledge and experience to make the transition to elderly care easier on you.  It is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed, which you can find at http://bit.ly/NeskcN.  If you decide to contact us to assist you care for your senior, we will discuss your needs and capabilities so that the change in their life is handled delicately.  Jim Smeaton, the owner of Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville, awaits your phone call or email, whether it is today or farther down the road.

We have many videos available to you regarding senior issues, view them here.

Finding the right care is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Jim Smeaton  and the professionals at Always Best Care of Western North Carolina at (828) 989-7263 or visit their website.

Reasons why In-Home Care May Be the Best Choice for Seniors

By Jim Smeaton
The aging population has several options pertaining to healthcare and care giving services. From nursing homes to assisted living facilities to in-home care, today's seniors can choose the form of elder care that best fits their needs. For many of these individuals, in-home care is the most flexible and practical. Additionally, many seniors prefer the independence that this option allows them to retain. The senior care professionals of Always Best Care of Western NC, serving Asheville, Hendersonville, and surrounding western North Carolina communities, know that weighing your elderly loved one's options is important in securing the right care for your senior's needs.


Benefits of In-Home Care

In-home care is a unique option that allows your elderly loved one to continue living in their home without compromising their safety. A professional senior care provider will come to the house on a regular basis to assist your senior with activities of daily living, such as grooming, bathing, dressing, eating, and more. Many families opt for this form of elder care for numerous reasons. Here are the top three factors that play into such a decision.

1. By aging in place, your elderly loved one can continue to live in their home. This is particularly important if they own the home and are on a fixed income. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are often expensive, so staying in their home is the preference of many elderly individuals. Furthermore, homeowners who have lived in the same house for decades are more comfortable staying at home than moving into an unfamiliar facility.
2. Home care provides a balance between independent living and assistance. For many seniors, the constant care provided by assisted living and nursing homes simply is not necessary; however, they do need some form of assistance or companionship. In-home care can provide this service without detracting from the independence of your loved one. This allows them to age in place in a dignified manner.
3.  The care that in-home service providers offer can be tailored to your senior's needs. This allows for customized, quality senior care on which your family can depend.

Weighing Your Options
Always Best Care combines national strength and standards with local accessibility and personal service. The owner of Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville is Jim Smeaton. Jim and his team assist seniors and their families in western North Carolina by providing non-medical in-home care and FREE assisted living placement services. We have strong relationships with area hospitals, social workers, senior communities and senior resources throughout the area.  We have your loved ones’ best interests at heart, and will ensure that exceptional service and care is provided to all family members.
We have many videos available to you regarding senior issues, view them here.

Finding the right care is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Jim Smeaton  and the professionals at Always Best Care of Western North Carolina at (828) 989-7263 or visit their website.