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Empowering elders to live life independently. Learn More -
The Naimisha Advantage The care that we at Naimisha take in providing support to the patient and their family to bring about a collective harmony. Learn More -
How Can Naimisha Help Elder care management services with the goal of improving the elder’s quality of life and reducing family stress, focusing on the rights of elders to have access to the care and support they need in the comfort of their own home. Learn More
faqs | Bulletin
1. What is holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine is a form of healing that considers the person’s body, mind, spirit, and emotions as a whole in the pursuit of an optimal health and wellness. According to the philosophy of holistic medicine, for one to achieve optimal health, the primary goal must be in gaining proper balance in life.
2. What all services do you offer?
Our services would broadly encompass:
- Elder care at multiple levels
- Educating family members of elders
- Advocacy for elders at a clinical level
- Family caregiver coaching & training household staff
- Assessment and monitoring
3. What treatment techniques do you employ?
We at Naimisha use a variety of treatment techniques to help our clients take responsibility for their own well-being and achieve optimal health.
These may include:
- Educating patients on lifestyle changes and self-care, including diet, exercise, psychotherapy, relationships, and spiritual counseling, to promote overall wellness
- Allopathic care, which includes advice on medication and surgery
- Providing cognitive stimulation
- Complementary and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, homeopathy, ayurveda, massage therapy, and naturopathy
4. I have seen a big change in my elderly parents' ability to take care of themselves. I'm not sure how serious the situation is but I know they need help. Can you help me?
Yes, as part of Naimisha’s Geriatric Home Care service package, our team first conducts a geriatric assessment of your parents in their home environment. Our elder care consultant identifies any problems and develops a care plan to address needs.
5. What is a Geriatric Assessment?
Geriatric assessment is a comprehensive evaluation specifically designed with the needs of an elder, focusing on his ability to enjoy good health, improve overall quality of life, reduce the need for hospitalization and/or institutionalization, and to live independently for as long as possible.
6. I work full time and cannot always be there when Mom needs me. Can you help?
Yes, Naimisha’s elder care consultants act as your eyes and ears to help you manage your mothers care. For example, the care consultant can accompany your mother to the doctor and communicate to you what occurred during the visit.
7. What makes Naimisha unique?
Naimisha specializes in customized care. We tailor our services based on each elderly person’s needs, ranging from intellectual stimulation for those who are physically and mentally independent to creative cognitive activities for those with physical limitations.
8. How are the family members kept in the loop?
The team at Naimisha maintains and shares customized reports and notes (both hard copies and soft copies) on each patient interaction, which are periodically sent to the family updating them on the status of elders in our care. Our consultants will be in regular touch with the family to discuss / inform / update them about their loved ones’ daily activities and care plans.
9. Are your consultants trained in elder care?
Our elder care consultants are health and allied medical services personnel who specialize in caring for the elders, in building relationships between patients, their families and their care teams following a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to caring for elders.
10. Are your consultants medically qualified?
All our ECCs have academic qualifications including, but not limited to, Nursing, Gerontology, Sociology, Social Work, or Psychology, and are educated / experienced in care management. Our teams are further trained with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care, to cater to the specific needs of the elders.
11. Do you admit patients in your facility?
No. We do not take in patients for treatment. We can refer patients to hospitals, transport them to their physician’s clinic, act as advocates for them in the hospital setting, or provide home care, depending on the service package they have opted for. Our office in Anna Nagar is only for consultation and administrative purposes.
12. How much do you charge for your different services packages?
Please contact us directly to find out about the charges applicable for each service package and the best package for your needs. The first step would be a paid assessment to see what level of care the patient would need, based on which we can suggest one of the three packages available or even a combination of more than one package, if need arises.
13. I'm still not clear how this service will help my family. Can I speak with a care manager before I choose to start this service?
Please call our contact line at +91 44 26266755 and ask to speak with a geriatric care consultant. We will be happy to provide you with an initial, complimentary consultation over phone.
If you have any questions that are not covered here, please let us know through our Contact Us page.
We understand; please call us.
faqs | Bulletin
1. Elderly Safety Tips
Simple yet essential tips to help keep an elderly person safe at home; remember it is always better to be safe than sorry!
- Be safety conscious at all times
- Keep walkways clear and free of clutter
- Have adequate lighting, especially on stairs and landings
- Have a night light handy as it helps for any needs in the middle of the night
- Ensure that any spills are wiped immediately to help prevent slips
- Install non-slip treads on stairs and on the bathroom floor
- Fix grab handles in the bathroom to make getting in and out easier
- Fit a bathroom door that can be opened from the outside in case of an emergency
- Plan for a bedroom on the ground floor with an easy fire exit
2. Nutrition & Diet
A good and balanced diet is very important for elders to maintain overall health. Some quick tips include:
- Eat more fruits and vegetables – Especially those that are full of nutrients and fiber
- Consume whole grains – Choose and eat at least 5 to 10 servings of whole grains per day
- Get the right amount of protein – Try and eat 5 to 7 ounces of protein per day
- Reduce salt intake – Remember, excess salt can cause a rise in blood pressure.
3. Preserving Independence & Control
As we grow old, it becomes essential to age healthily and maintain balance without losing control.
These 10 steps can help you and your loved ones in doing so:
- Home safety and accessibility:Create a hazard-free home environment that is easily accessible too. This includes installing proper railings along stairs and grab bars in the bathroom and also avoiding multiple levels. Too many carpets can be a danger as well. Also think about levelling areas outside your home entrance avoiding too many steps.
- Prevent falls: A fall can lead to severe disability and loss of independence. Balance problems can be common as we age due to physical or neurologic conditions or frailty. Use a mobility support device if recommended by your doctor or physical therapist. Using a cane, walker or wheelchair can be a bane and reduce our self esteem, but it is more important to prevent a fall than to worry about appearances.
- Exercise and nutrition: Regular moderate exercise, 30 minutes a day, is an accepted standard for all ages. Pick an exercise that you enjoy and stick to it. Keep moving; it is not only essential for overall physical health, but also important for your cognitive health. Proper balanced nutrition is a key to health as well.
- Socialization: Probably one of the best ways to combat isolation, loneliness and depression is to socialize and be around people. Find an activity in and around your community and participate as this plays a very important role in the overall well-being.
- Intellectual stimulation: Stimulate your brain; undertake things that are stimulating for your brain, try puzzles, take classes or lectures on new and novel subjects.
- Accept help when you need it: Accepting help is not a sign of weakness. But an important path in taking back control of your life. Many times refusing or ignoring help might lead to disability and dependence or even institutionalisation after an injury or illness that otherwise may have been prevented.
- Accept your diagnosis: Many a times, elders do not want to believe or accept a diagnosis, or simply neglect their health. Don’t resist or shy away, but accept and face it. Learn about what is in store as the disease progresses and be prepared. Remember that being prepared is essential for coping with chronic disease.
- Prepare financial and legal documents: Make sure you have access to current legal documents and have a financial plan in place to manage long-term care needs. Put together a folder with essential legal and financial documents for your family members.
- Open discussions with family: Talk to your family, friends and loved ones about how to make decisions about your care or health if you are unable to. Don't hesitate to communicate your end-of-life wishes. This will help your family during times of stress or crisis to make clear decisions on your behalf.
- Professionals are there to help: There are skilled professionals in the field of eldercare who can help you through difficult or confusing times. Remember how much ever overwhelming the need might seem, there are right professionals who can help you through it all.
4. Myths about Exercise, Fitness and Aging
- Myth 1: There’s no point to exercising. I’m going to get old anyway.
- Myth 2: Older people shouldn’t exercise. They should save their strength and rest.
- Myth 3: Exercise puts me at risk of falling down.
- Myth 4: It’s too late. I’m already too old to start exercising.
- Myth 5: I’m disabled. I can’t exercise sitting down.
Reality: Not only does exercise and strength training helps you to look and feel younger and stay active longer, it also helps lower the risk for a number of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Reality: Studies have shown that a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy for elders. Lack of exercise would lead to inactivity that often causes elders to lose the ability to do things on their own, which in turn can lead to more hospitalisations, doctor visits, and use of medicines for illnesses.
Reality: In contradiction, regular exercise helps building strength and stamina, which prevents loss of bone mass and improves balance and this in turn actually reduces your risk of falling.
Reality: One can never be too old to exercise! If you’ve never exercised before, or it’s been a while, start with light walking and other gentle activities.
Reality: It is true that chair-bound people face special challenges but you can lift light weights, stretch, and do chair aerobics to increase range of motion, improve muscle tone, and promote cardiovascular health.
5. Benefits of Exercising for Elders
As you age, regular exercise is more important than ever to your body and mind.
Physical health benefits of exercise and fitness:
- With age, metabolism naturally slows and maintaining a healthy weight is quite a task. Exercise helps us in increasing metabolism and building muscle mass, thereby helping to burn more calories. Remember when the body reaches a healthy weight; its overall wellness improves.
- Benefits of exercise for elders include improved immune function, better heart health and blood pressure, better bone density, and better digestive functioning. Studies have shown that exercise does reduce the impact of illness and chronic disease.
- Exercise enhances mobility, flexibility, and balance in elders. Exercise improves strength, flexibility and posture, which in turn will help with balance, coordination, and reduces the risk of falls.
- Exercise improves sleep. Poor sleep is not an inevitable consequence of aging and quality sleep is important for the overall health. Exercise helps elders to fall asleep more quickly and sleep more deeply.
- Exercise boosts mood and self-confidence. Endorphins produced by exercise help you feel better and reduce feelings of sadness or depression. Being active and feeling strong naturally helps you feel more self-confident and sure of yourself.
- Exercise is good for the brain. Exercise benefits regular brain functions and can help keep the brain active, preventing memory loss, cognitive decline, and dementia. Exercise may even help slowing down the progression of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Mental health benefits of exercise and fitness:
6. Activities that are beneficial to Elders:
- Walking: Walking is a perfect way to start exercising. Remember, other than a pair of comfortable walking shoes, it requires no special equipment and can be done anywhere.
- Senior sports or fitness classes: Helps in keeping elders motivated, providing a source of fun, stress relief, and a place to meet friends.
- Water sports: Working out in water is wonderful for elders because water reduces stress and strain on the body's joints.
- Yoga: Yoga can be adapted to any level. The different poses improve strength, flexibility, balance, and breathing.
7. Depression
Depression is not a sign of weakness or a character flaw. Though it can affect anyone, at any age, regardless of your background or your previous accomplishments in life, one does not have to live with depression.
Elders are often more prone to depression and this is treatable. With the right kind of support, treatment, and self-help strategies, our elders and loved ones can feel better and live a happy and vibrant life.
With age comes significant changes in life that can put elders at risk for depression. Few of the notable causes and risk factors that contribute to depression in the elderly include:
- Health issues - Illness and disability; chronic or severe pain; cognitive decline; damage to body image due to surgery or disease.
- Loneliness and isolation - Living alone; a dwindling social circle due to deaths or relocation; reduced mobility due to illness.
- Reduced sense of purpose - Feelings of purposelessness or loss of identity due to retirement or physical limitations on activities.
- Fears - Fear of death or dying; anxiety over financial problems or health issues.
- Recent bereavements - The death of friends, family members, and pets; the loss of a spouse or partner.
Symptoms of depression can occur as a side effect of prescription drugs and also due to underlying painful, disabling, or life-threatening medical problems such as:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disorders
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- Lupus
- Multiple sclerosis
8. Are you in GRIEF or are you in DEPRESSION?
Signs of grief or depression are often confused with one another. Though there are ways to tell the difference, we seldom fail to distinguish between grief and clinical depression as they share many symptoms.
Grief is a roller coaster involving a wide variety of emotions and a mix of good and bad days. Even when in the middle of the grieving process, one can have moments of pleasure or happiness. With depression, on the other hand, the feelings of emptiness and despair are constant.
While there’s no set timetable for the grieving process, if it doesn’t let up over time or it obscures all signs of joy - laughing at a good joke, appreciating a beautiful sunset - it may be depression.
Other symptoms that suggest depression, not just grief:
- Intense, pervasive sense of guilt
- Thoughts of suicide or a preoccupation with dying
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Slow speech and body movements
- Inability to function at home
- Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
9. Self-Help Tips for the Elderly
- Sleep well. Not getting enough sleep can make your depression symptoms worse. Ideally, you have to aim for around 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
- Maintain a healthy diet. One must choose healthy foods that provide nourishment and energy. Avoid eating too much sugar and junk food. Ensure that you take your daily dose of multivitamins.
- Participate in activities you enjoy. Any hobbies or pastimes that bring you joy, or used to bring you joy - continue to pursue them.
- Volunteer your time. Expand your social network; helping others is one of the best ways to feel better about yourself.
- Get a pet. A pet can keep you company, and walking a dog can be good exercise for you and often a new and great way to meet people.
- Learn a new skill. Pick something that you’ve always wanted to learn, or something that ignites and/or even rekindles your imagination and creativity.
- Create opportunities to laugh. Laughter is always a good mood elevator and instant mood booster. As often as you can, share humorous stories and jokes with your loved ones, watch a comedy, or read a funny book.
10. Feed the Body, Mind and Soul
Remember the old adage “YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT”. There is a variety of natural, healthy and colourful fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins that will make you feel vibrant and healthy, inside and out.
- Live longer and stronger - Good nutrition keeps muscles, bones, organs, and other body parts strong. A diet rich in vitamin-rich food boosts immunity and fights illness-causing toxins. A balanced diet reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, bone loss, cancer, and anaemia. Remember, eating sensibly means consuming fewer calories and more nutrient-dense foods, which will keep body weight in check.
- Sharpen your mind - Our brain needs key nutrients that are essential for it to do its job. A diet of brightly colored fruit, leafy veggies, and fish and nuts packed with omega-3 fatty acids can improve focus and decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Feel better - It’s all connected - when your body feels good, you feel happier inside and out. Wholesome meals give you more energy and help you look better, resulting in a self-esteem boost.
11. What your Body Needs?
A balanced diet and physical activity contribute to a higher quality of life and enhanced independence as you age. Healthy foods help elders feel better.
- Fruits - Focus on whole fruits rather than juices for more fiber and vitamins and aim for around 1 ½ to 2 servings each day. Fruits don’t mean apple and banana only. Go for colour-rich pickings like berries or melons.
- Vegetables - Colour is the doctrine in this category; consume antioxidant-rich dark, leafy greens, such as kale (parattai keerai or karam saag), spinach, and broccoli as well as orange and yellow vegetables, such as carrots, squash, and yams. Aim for 2 to 2 ½ cups of veggies every day.
- Calcium - With age, it is important to maintain the bone health by an adequate intake of calcium to prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures. Elders need 1,200 mg of calcium a day through servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese. Non-dairy sources include tofu, broccoli, almonds, and kale.
- Grains - Be wary of carbohydrates and choose whole grains over processed white flour for more nutrients and more fiber. Elders need 6-7 ounces of grains each day (one ounce is about 1 slice of bread).
- Protein - Elders need about 1 to 1.5 grams per kilogram of bodyweight. This translates to 68 to 102g of protein per day for a person weighing 68 kg. Plan a diet having 25 to 40g of high-quality protein per meal. It would be beneficial to divide the protein intake among meals, but keep in mind that anything less than 15g won’t benefit bone or muscle. Choose from a variety of food sources including red meat, more fish, beans, peas, nuts, eggs, milk, cheese, and seeds in your diet.
A generic guideline
- Not physically active needs about 1600 calories a day
- Somewhat physically active needs about 1800 calories a day
- Very active needs about 2000 calories a day
- Not physically active needs about 2000 calories a day
- Somewhat physically active needs about 2200-2400 calories a day
- Very active needs about 2400-2800 calories a day
General rule of thumb
A woman over 50 who is:
A Man over 50 who is:
Source: National Institute of Aging
