Man’s ability to process, understand and apply knowledge “may actually become sharper, may get better with age,” said Dr. CNN chief correspondent Sanjay Gupta during one interview with National Public Radio. The key, he said, is learning a new skill that can be as simple as eating with the other hand.
Home care experts say Gupta’s tips can be adopted for home care customers.
“Provide helpers providing life-saving, hands-on care for elderly care recipients; and critical social, behavioral, and emotional support for care recipients and their families, ”Robyn Stone, DrPH, co-director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center, told McKnight’s Home Daily Care. “They know their people in need of care and know what’s going on at home. This puts them in an ideal position not only to help those in need of care manage existing medical conditions, but also to learn online with clients who care for them, including activities like that of Dr. Gupta suggested that will help prevent the development of other diseases. ”
However, to do that, rescuers need to be trained in concepts of why they matter and how best to implement them, Stone added.
When it comes to home care, mental fitness practices could become part of a care plan, Bill Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, told McKnight’s Home Care Daily.
“One key would be a well-designed mental exercise program that companies can use to train employees and then apply to their patients,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the primary reason to bring in a home care helper, but it could be a care improvement that could be of value and marketed as a competitive advantage. It may also be possible to obtain assistance from third party payers for separate reimbursement, although this possibility is small. “
