Hello Pumpkin. Hello Fall. Say hello to JoyCARE and let us help you make autumn the best season of all! Pumpkin patches, football games, falling leaves, and cooler temps all let us know that fall has arrived. For many in the South, the fall is welcomed with open arms as we begin to experience a relief from the brutal summer heat.
Autumn is a season of change. We change out our clothes from our summer outfits to our fall wardrobe. We change the time and fall back an hour with daylight savings time. We change our weekend activities with many following their favorite football team each week. We change our home décor and adorn doorways with pumpkins, mums, and scarecrows.
Just as change is so visibly evident with the changing of the seasons, change is also inevitable in each of us. As we age, certain things can become more difficult for us to accomplish. Sometimes that is apparent in our physical abilities such as increased difficulty getting up from a low sofa, bed, or chair. Walking around the home, doing laundry, and cooking may be more challenging for someone than it used to be. These changes may not all be related to our physical bodies. Many times, people begin to have more difficulty with memory or problem solving. The change one notices may be dealing with their level of mental alertness more than their physical abilities.
Speaking of change, the past two years have forced more changes on us than any in my lifetime. The pandemic, with the resulting lockdowns and regulations, has caused our lives and society to look different. This change has resulted in an increased number of calls to JoyCARE looking for companionship for a loved one due to isolation, feelings of loneliness, depression, and boredom.
The idea of JoyCARE came to me while I was working in an assisted living facility as an Occupational Therapist. I saw there was a need in the lives of senior adults that went beyond traditional therapy. A one on one, continuous, and individualized program was needed to allow seniors the opportunity to reach and maintain their highest potential. JoyCARE can also help someone continue with a home exercise program after being discharged from traditional therapy.
If you, or someone you love, has experienced any of the changes I have mentioned, please continue reading to see how JoyCARE can help.
Life Skills
• Feeding
• Grooming (taking care of nails and hair, applying makeup, and maintaining proper oral care)
• Dressing tasks
• Educating clients in safety
• Light cooking
• Managing home tasks
Promotion of an Active Lifestyle
• Encouraging clients to get up and be active
• Taking clients on walks
• Gentle exercises
• Engaging clients in activities to encourage movement
• Planting flowers and simple gardening
Mental Alertness
• Playing cards and using activities to help increase attention, concentration, problem solving, alertness, sequencing, and memory
• Engaging in games to stimulate thought processes and provide interaction with others
• Helping clients adjust to their current living environment
Companionship
• Assisting with letter writing
• Reading books, magazines, etc.
• Listening and engaging client in meaningful conversation
• Reminiscing
• Improving self- esteem through crafts and hobbies
Organization
• Eliminating clutter to reduce tripping hazard
• Sorting and filing mail
• Managing trash and throwing away junk mail
• Writing appointments on calendar
• Organizing closets and drawers
Education
• Education with emphasis on fall prevention
• Education including ways to simplify tasks and conserve energy
JoyCARE, Inc. is unique because we offer the benefits of skilled individuals who provide attention and services that maximize the independence and safety of our clients. Every session is individualized to help each client meet his or her personal goals. JoyCARE, Inc. strives to keep clients as active and mentally alert as possible. While we are not a therapy service, we are much more than a traditional sitter service. JoyCARE, Inc. can help maintain the emotional well-being of our clients and help improve quality of life
I am a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist with more than 15 years of experience treating the geriatric population. Upon graduation from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, I began my career at Methodist Rehabilitation Center where I gained experience treating victims of strokes and brain injuries, orthopedic surgery cases with emphasis on hip and knee replacements, amputees, and clients with generalized weakness.
Following my tenure at MRC, I found my true passion caring for the geriatric population in various assisted living facilities. I have served as an Occupational Therapist and a Director of Rehabilitation Services. I am committed to providing quality, individualized care that enhances the lives of those I serve.
The trees with the falling leaves let us know just how beautiful it can be to let things go. Let JoyCARE help you let go of anxiety, frustration, boredom, loneliness, and depression.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
Could you or someone you know benefit from JoyCARE? Please call Jennifer Joy Bird at (601) 573-6344 for more information.
