Reliant at Home Care

Non-Medical Home Care

right-header
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Our Mission
    • Meet The Team
  • Services
    • Personal Care
    • Companionship
    • Homemaker Services
    • Medicaid Waiver Services
    • Respite Care
    • Live-In Care
    • Alzheimer’s / Dementia Care
  • FAQ’s
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • Careers
    • Join Our Team
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Archives for Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA

How Can You Make Visits with Your Senior Productive as a Long-Distance Caregiver?

October 26, 2017 By Cerie Goldenberg, MSW, LSW

When you’re a long-distance family caregiver, visits with your senior may feel way too short. Depending on how often you’re able to visit, you may need to do everything that you can in order to make the most of those visits.

Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA: Long-Distance Caregiving

Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA: Long-Distance Caregiving

Keep in Touch with Elder Care Providers and Family Members.

From your home, you can only understand so much about your senior’s experience. Make sure that you’re keeping in touch with everyone who sees your aging adult regularly. This could mean talking frequently with family members, neighbors, and elder care providers who have hands-on access to your elderly family member.

Scope out the Food Situation.

Food can tell you quite a bit about how well your senior is taking care of herself. You’re going to want to make sure that there aren’t expired foods or foods that are not recommended for her health conditions. From there, it’s about making sure that her fridge and pantry are stocked with healthy, delicious foods that she’ll enjoy.

Double Check Medications.

If your senior’s medications are not working properly for her or if she’s not taking them correctly, then that can cause some significant problems for her. Take the time to talk with her doctor and her pharmacist about the medications your senior is taking. If she’s experiencing side effects, they may need adjusting.

Set up a System with Your Senior for Communication.

Even with extra help from other people, you need to know that you and your senior are communicating with each other openly and honestly. It’s important for her to understand that you simply want her to be safe and healthy, so telling you honestly what is going on is never a problem. Let her know that she can tell you anything and you’ll work to find a solution that works best for her.

Address In-person Issues While You’re There.

Some issues have to be addressed in person, no matter how much help you’ve got. You might need to meet with your senior’s doctor or lawyer while you’re in town, so be sure to schedule those appointments as soon as possible. Try to cover everything that needs handling while you’re right there.

Don’t forget that you’re there to see your senior. Too much focus on the nuts and bolts of caregiving will leave you and her feeling as if you didn’t have time together.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Lafayette Hill, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.

Filed Under: Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA, Long-Distance Caregivers Tagged With: Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA

Mobility Issues and your Aging Parent

February 10, 2017 By Cerie Goldenberg, MSW, LSW

Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA

Mobility refers to a person’s ability to move in the world. Several factors can contribute to mobility problems; these include lack of balance, weakness, pain, joint dysfunction, and visual Elder-Care-in-Lafayette-Hill-PAimpairment along with mental disturbances. These can in turn lead to difficulty walking, getting up from chairs or a bed, trouble navigating into the shower or bath as well as going up or down stairs. Fear of falling can keep an otherwise social senior inactive. Helping your parent remain as mobile as possible is one of the biggest gifts you can share in helping them lead a happy, productive life as they age.

How to Help

  • Determine the cause of the loss of mobility. To this end, ensure they are getting regular exams for their eyes and ears. Their primary care physician or physical therapist should be able to assist in determining the issue.
  • Be aware of possible medication interactions and side-effects that can lead to symptoms that promote diminished mobility. Bring a list of all medications your parent is taking, including supplements and over-the-counter medications, to their pharmacist. They will be able to recommend changes in prescriptions or related doses that may help with dizziness.
  • Ensure a safe environment by taking a good look at their home. Make sure all pathways are cleared of obstructions or tripping hazards. Clear any clutter. Install good sensor lighting in strategic locations. Place grab bars in areas such as the shower and by the toilet. Provide raised seating for toilet seats and chairs as needed.
  • Promote strength and balance by encouraging exercise. This may include going out on daily walks or trips to the senior center or local Y for classes such as water aerobics, yoga or Tai chi. Check with their doctor before starting an exercise program and make sure they wear good, sturdy, non-slip walking shoes.
  • Find activities that excite your parent and motivate them to go out into the world. These may include local programs and events geared for seniors that can be found at museums, gardens and other public places. Classes in computer, various crafts such as pottery, language, creative writing and nutrition are often offered at the local senor community center, along with evenings of shared meals.
  • Obtain the services of an elder care provider. These professionals can accompany your parent on walks, provide transportation and companionship to social events and classes, and assist them should a mobility issue arise. They can provide assistance with the daily activities of living that may become difficult as your parent’s mobility declines.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Lafayette Hill, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today 610-200-6075.

 

Filed Under: Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA Tagged With: Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA

Keeping the Elderly Safe When Driving in Inclement Weather

May 20, 2016 By Cerie Goldenberg, MSW, LSW

Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA

It doesn’t take much for a driver to encounter a serious driving condition—whether posed by another driver, or by weather conditions. As people age, handling those situations can become even Elder-Care-in-Lafayette-Hill-PAmore difficult. But knowing what to do in certain conditions can help make all the difference in the world. As a family caregiver, if you have noticed your aging parent’s driving isn’t as sharp as it used to be, or you just want to make extra certain they are safe when behind-the-wheel, the following are some good tips you can share with them:

  • Take a cell phone when driving, even if the weather is good. Flat tires, for example, can occur no matter the weather. And weather can change in an instant. So having a way of communicating with the police, a tow company, or a family member, is always a good idea. Make sure the phone is completely charged or that they have a charger in their care.
  • Have the car weatherized for the appropriate season. In summer, that means using a different weight oil than in winter months. But having tires and brakes checked, fluids checked and/or topped off, and wipers checked and/or replaced are the basics.
  • Avoiding roadways, overpasses and bridges when they are wet (or icy in winter) is advisable. If possible in inclement weather, take a different route, or avoid driving altogether until conditions change.
  • Go back to the basics learned when first starting to drive and know how to respond to a vehicle that skids or fishtails. Turn the wheel in the direction you want to go, is what you should advise your parent. But be careful not to over-correct, or they could develop a new problem.
  • Have an emergency kit in the car that includes a first-aid kit, as well as a flashlight, booster cables, a blanket or two, and some bottled water and bagged food of fruits, nuts, or vegetables. There may come a time when your parent gets stuck for more than a short while, and if they have medical conditions where they need to eat or keep hydrated, having those things will feel like a godsend, especially if they’re traveling on a highway or in rural areas.
  • Turn on headlights and wipers when the car is started. A good rule of thumb is, if the windshield wipers are needed, so are the lights.
  • Make sure they allow themselves extra time to get to their destination and extra space around them—both in front and on the sides of their car. When possible, it’s a good idea to drive in the middle lane, as it lessens the chance of going off the road and the middle of roads is usually higher, so standing water, slush, etc., will likely not be there as it would be on the side of roads.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Lafayette Hill, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today 610-200-6075.

 

Sources:

http://www.comfortkeepers.com/home/info-center/aging-in-place/keeping-seniors-safe-during-inclement-weather#sthash.ahHdNGFN.dpuf

http://seniordriving.aaa.com/improve-your-driving-skills/driving-bad-weather/rain

 

Filed Under: Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA Tagged With: Elder Care in Lafayette Hill PA

Please contact us for care using the form below:

Name (required)
   
First                                   Last

Email (required)

Phone (required)

How Can We Help You?

Our Location

Reliant at Home Care
1145 Forrest St., Suite 100
Conshohocken PA 19428
Tel: (610) 674-6860
Fax: (484) 679-4730

Our Service Area

Serving Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, Philadelphia, and Chester Counties.
Reliant At Home Care BBB Business Review

Memberships\Awards

Best Home Caregivers in Philadelphia

From Our Newsroom

  • Reliant at Home Care President David Goldenberg speaks at 2019 Pennsylvania Home Care Associations Annual Meeting November 7, 2019
  • Reliant at Home Care’s Rudy Aviso wins 2019 Rothkoff Law Group Caregiver of the Year Award November 7, 2019
  • Can a Doctor Tell Your Parent What They Will Expect with Parkinson’s Disease? August 1, 2018