Reliant at Home Care had their Department of Human Services Audit last week and are pleased announce we had zero deficiencies! We work very hard to ensure we have seamless record keeping and ensure we are always up to date in all areas of compliance. Thank you to our hard working staff.
Did You Know You Might Reduce Caregiver Stress Through Writing?
Caregiver stress can affect people of all ages, even those who have an incredibly close relationship with the person who needs assistance and support. It might be a parent, spouse, or sibling, for example. Just because there is a close personal relationship with this individual doesn’t mean stress won’t occur.
Caregiver in Bryn Mawr PA: Reducing Stress Through Writing
For those family caregivers struggling at the moment, there are strategies that can help.
One of the most effective things people do, or turn to, is understanding the value of home care support services. Home care aides are a valuable asset for men and women of all ages who have any type of difficulty at home with their basic care. It could be for only a few weeks or a couple of months, or it may need to go on indefinitely.
For those men and women who have taken on the role of being a caregiver for somebody in their life, the stress they feel isn’t just going to dissipate because they try to ignore it. There are numerous strategies that can be effective, though, and one of them is to engage in writing.
Why writing?
A person doesn’t have to have any real serious ability or understanding of grammar, spelling, and other factors that go into quality writing to sit down and create a journal, blog, or diary.
Keeping track of what goes on every day, the thoughts this person has on a regular basis, and the other challenges in life can all be powerful. They can be cathartic. By writing these things down, it helps them to bring them to the surface and then deal with them in the right way.
Far too often when we are frustrated, angry, and hostile towards somebody or something, we don’t deal with our emotions properly. The situation can escalate, even when supporting somebody you care tremendously about.
If you were to go home at the end of the day, no matter how tired you are from work, and sit down to write in a journal, even just a few lines about your day, over time you may feel better about things.
This isn’t going to eliminate stress completely from your life. If you want that miracle, then you should seriously sit down and talk about hiring a home care aide. Home care professionals provide many wonderful benefits to aging seniors and disabled adults all across the country. They also help alleviate the pressure and stress far too many family caregivers endure on a daily basis.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Bryn Mawr, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
How Can You Protect Your Senior’s Safety On a Road Trip?
Going on vacation is something that many families look forward to every summer. A vacation with your family is a fantastic way to connect, make memories, spend quality time together, and experience new things, or revisit places that are meaningful to you. As a family caregiver, planning a vacation is not just about thinking of all the wonderful things you’ll do together, and making sure you plan what everybody wants to do. You must also keep in mind your senior’s needs and how you can help them stay safer and healthier throughout the vacation experience.
Home Care in Wayne PA: Road Trip Safety
Use these tips to protect your senior’s safety on a road trip:
- Make sure there’s enough space in the vehicle for your parent to sit comfortably and shift positions. Nothing should be pressing against your parent, or restricting their movement.
- Insist your senior wears their seatbelt at all times throughout the travel.
- Make sure your parent dresses comfortably and in layers so they can quickly and easily adjust their temperature and not become excessively hot or cold.
- Do not place any luggage where it could slide and potentially injure your senior.
- If your parent has wandering tendencies, do not leave them alone in the car or allow them to go into rest areas or other unfamiliar locations by themselves.
- Consider having your parent carry or wear a personal GPS tracking device that will allow you to keep track of them should they get out of your sight during a break in the trip.
Bringing your senior along with you on a road trip can be wonderful, but it isn’t always possible. Simply because you are a family caregiver for an aging adult who is not able to be as active as the rest of your family doesn’t mean you are no longer able to enjoy your annual vacation. There is help available that allows you to still take your vacation, while knowing your parent is safe and properly cared for. If you are planning a vacation with your family, but don’t feel it would be appropriate to bring your senior along, consider respite care. This type of care can be used in conjunction with your parent’s regular home care provider to ensure they have continuous access to the care they need. With respite care, an additional care provider steps in to manage care tasks that you would usually handle yourself. This means they still have someone with them as much as they need to, while you’re able to go enjoy your quality time with your partner and children, take a break, and relax.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Wayne, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
How Can Elder Care Help a Senior with Migraines?
If you are a family caregiver for one of the approximately 38 million people throughout the United States who are currently living with migraines, you know that this condition can bring with it many different symptoms and struggles for your senior. This can be difficult not just for their physical health, but for their mental and emotional well-being as well. Fortunately, starting elder care for them can be extremely beneficial in supplementing the care you already give them to ensure their needs are met, they manage their condition well, and they can pursue the quality of life they deserve.
Elder Care in Worcester PA: Helping Seniors with Migraines
Some ways elder care can help a senior with migraines include:
- Medication reminders. If your aging parent has been prescribed medications for their migraines, it is important that they remain compliant with when to take them, and how. A care provider can offer your parent reminders to ensure they stay compliant so they can get the benefits their doctor intends for them.
- Meal preparation. Eating a healthy diet is an important part of staying healthy, and can also reduce the frequency with which your aging parent experiences migraines. Eating the right foods, avoiding any food-related triggers such as additives and preserved foods, and maintaining a healthy weight all help to prevent migraines. For those seniors in the midst of a migraine, meal preparation can also allow them to rest rather than trying to get up to cook.
- Assistance with household tasks. In the days before, during, and even after a migraine, your parent is likely to experience lack of energy and sensitivity. The symptoms of the attack may also reduce their ability to handle basic daily tasks such as tidying, dishes, and laundry. A care provider can handle these for your senior so they can focus on resting and recovering.
- Monitoring symptoms. Most often migraines do not require medical attention. If your parent experiences a sudden, intense headache, severe symptoms, or other challenges an elder care provider can be there for your parent to monitor their symptoms, and ensure if there is any change or emergency, they can alert you immediately so you can decide what needs to be done next.
Helping your aging parent cope with their migraines isn’t the only way an elderly home care services provider can help your parent. This type of professional care can be invaluable for your senior whether they have only mild needs or more extensive challenges. The personalized care of an elderly care provider can help your parent to save their energy for activities beyond caring for their home, provide support to engage in more activity, particularly if they are dealing with mobility issues, and even make it easier for them to pursue a healthier lifestyle through efforts such as encouraging exercise and preparation of healthy meals and snacks.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Worcester, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
Sources
https://migraine.com/migraine-statistics/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201
Good Aerobic Health Could Make Word Recall Easier
The fact that exercise is essential to good health is no secret. You probably know that exercise can improve physical health in a number of ways. However, have you ever considered whether it might also be good for your aging relative’s brain? Recently, researchers at Britain’s University of Birmingham wondered how aerobic exercise might affect the ability to recall words.
Senior Care in Abington PA: Aerobic Health and Word Recall
About the Study.
The lead researcher, Katrien Segaert, is a language researcher and a psychologist. In her studies, she had observed a large variance in the language abilities of aging adults. This made her curious as to whether fitness played a role.
Many people occasionally find themselves temporarily forgetting a word or a name. It’s that feeling you get when a word is on the tip of your tongue. You know what the word means, but you can’t remember the word itself. Through the course of the study, the researchers found that older adults who were more fit experienced this inability to recall a word less.
The study involved 28 healthy older adults. The participants spent some time riding a stationary bicycle at their top capacity to measure how fit they were. They also had them take a language test in which they read the definition of a word on a computer screen and were asked to supply the word. Those who measured as more physically fit performed better on the word recall test. The results of the study indicate that there is a relationship between physical fitness and a major cognitive skill.
Good Forms of Exercise for Seniors.
Older adults may be reluctant to exercise because they fear injury or joint pain. However, there are many kinds of exercise that can improve fitness while still being safe and easy on elderly joints. Some excellent forms of exercise for older adults are:
- Swimming or Water Exercise: The warm water of a pool can be soothing on aching joints. Swimming and water aerobics are also low-impact.
- Yoga: Yoga is low-impact and the movements are gentle. Yet, it can still improve aerobic fitness, strengthen muscles, and improve mobility.
- Walking: Walking is gentle and free. It only takes a good pair of walking shoes and can be much more fun when done with a companion, like a dog or a friend.
Regardless of the form of exercise your aging relative chooses, a senior care provider can help in several ways. First, a senior care provider can encourage the older adult to remain active. Senior care providers can drive your loved one to a group fitness class. They can also go for walks with the senior to prevent falls and make the experience more enjoyable.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Abington, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
Sources
https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2018/memory-loss-aerobic-exercise.html
https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/best-exercise-older-adults/
What Types of Online Support Groups Could You Find?
Many times you might need support for yourself as a caregiver, but it’s difficult to find exactly what you need. Rather than spending a lot of time and energy hunting down in-person support groups, you might want to try online support groups. Here are a few types to consider.
Caregiver in Lafayette Hill PA: Online Support Groups
Forums and Message Boards.
Forums and message boards are really easy to use and they work almost like a cork message board might. Members make a post and then other members reply to the post underneath, creating a thread. This is a way that you can post a question or describe your situation at a time that is convenient for you and then other people will reply when it’s convenient for them to do so.
Chat Rooms.
Chat rooms are more of a “live” experience. This usually involves logging into a group chat area that becomes a running conversation among all of the users who are logged in and chatting at that time. Some support groups might maintain an archive of past chats that members can access later. Many support groups “meet” at a set time in chat rooms. This is a great way to get live support when you need it.
Email Lists and Newsgroups.
Newsgroups and email lists usually involve members signing up to access a particular list. Then, as someone sends an email to the main list, all of the subscribers to the list are able to see that email as a post. These can get overwhelming quickly on a busy list, so it’s often a good idea to sign up for the digest version that sends one longer email with all of the messages that have been sent to the list.
In-person Groups May Have an Online Presence.
Sometimes in-person support groups in your area also have an online presence. This might be through their own website or through a national group’s site. This can be a really great way to get to know a group before attending meetings in person. It’s also a way that you can get support if you’re not able to get to those in-person meetings but still want to connect with that particular group.
Online support groups give you an opportunity to get support whenever you need it, day or night. They can also help you to reach out when you’re still not comfortable attending an in-person meeting just yet. As with in-person meetings, each online support group has its own feel so you might need to try a few groups to find the right fit for you.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Lafayette Hill, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
How Can You Help Your Senior Determine What Makes Breathing More Difficult?
If your elderly family member has lung issues or COPD, then it’s crucial to know what makes her have more problems breathing. When you have that information, you can do as much as possible to avoid those triggers.
Home Care in Bryn Mawr PA: Helping Your Senior Breathe Easier
Look at Common Triggers.
Most people with lung diseases or COPD experience some of the same triggers that make breathing worse. Chemical fumes, cigarette smoke, pollution, and fragrances usually tend to top the list. But your family member might also be sensitive to high humidity or dust and mold. It’s important to note that being stressed or anxious can also be a trigger for breathing problems.
Keep a Breathing Diary.
If you’re starting from scratch with determining your elderly family member’s breathing triggers, a breathing diary makes everything much easier. What you’re going to want to track first is how your family member is breathing at different times of day. From there, track what she’s eating, drinking, and what is happening when she notices that she’s having trouble breathing.
Include Times of Day.
It’s really important to include the time of day when you or your elderly family member updates the breathing diary. You may start to notice that situations that don’t cause problems in the morning are more difficult for your family member later in the day. This could be because she feels stronger and less stressed in the morning, but by afternoon she’s more tired and less able to deal with certain triggers. Time of day can therefore be seen as a trigger of sorts.
Take the Info to Your Senior’s Doctor.
Once you’ve collected a good bit of data, your aging adult’s doctor can use it to look a little more at how her environment is impacting her ability to breathe. Some of that information can also help her doctor to see how well her medications are helping her to breathe. From there, you can develop a better plan to help your aging adult.
Learn How to Avoid Triggers.
The more you understand the triggers that cause worsened breathing for your senior, the easier it is for you and other people to help her avoid them. If cleaning products or dust create issues for your senior, then it might be time to hire home care providers to take over those tasks for her.
Avoiding triggers is so much easier when you are aware of them. Your family member’s triggers may change as her health changes, too, so it’s important to periodically revisit this process. Each time you can learn even more about what helps your family member to breathe better.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Bryn Mawr, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
A Senior Citizen Shares Information on a Part-Time Job Scam Targeting the Elderly
To age at home, many elderly men and women rely on the help of caregivers. Some need elderly care services because they can no longer drive. Others need help with harder household chores like laundry and vacuuming.
Elderly Care in Ardmore PA: Part Time Job Scam
While elderly care services are extremely helpful, they can be hard to afford on a fixed income. Some able seniors take small, easy jobs to cover the expense. As one senior found out, even the job market has scammers looking for victims.
The Mystery Shopping Scam.
Mystery shoppers go into stores and critique the customer service, cleanliness, and overall experience. They get paid a fee to do so. Once the report is filed, payment is immediately scheduled. If any purchase was required as part of the assignment, a copy of the receipt is needed to get reimbursed for the purchase.
One senior was offered a job as a mystery shopper. The company gave him the instructions and a very official looking check to cover the fee and money to buy thousands of dollars in gift cards. He was instructed to deposit the check and then go to a store to buy the gift cards. Once the company’s check cleared, the money he’d spent would be back in his account.
As the man had never been paid in advance, he was suspicious. He went to police who admitted the check looked valid. They called the bank on the check and learned it was a fake. Had the senior not questioned the payment, he would have been responsible for bounced check fees. He’d also be out the money he used to buy the gift cards.
This is One of Many Scams.
This is one of many scams seniors face. Any time a request is made to buy gift cards and send them or to wire money, seniors should contact authorities. Make sure your parent knows to ask before they ever send money to a person or business.
If your parent needs elderly care services and isn’t sure how to afford it, talk to an agency. With a mix of caregiver’s help and family chipping in, it is possible to get the cost of elderly care services to a point where your parent won’t have to take a part-time job or have you help out financially. Call us today to learn more about other ways to make home care affordable.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Ardmore, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
How Long Does Stroke Recovery Take?
When your aging parent has suffered a severe medical event such as a stroke, your first thoughts are of getting them through the initial risk. You then start thinking about their recovery and how soon they can reclaim their health and move forward with their life. Having an idea of how long it will take for your aging parent to recover from their stroke not only lets you plan care, and gives you something to look forward to, but it can also eliminate wondering how well your parent is responding to care and support. This can let you determine if they may need further care to help them respond better, and get through the recovery more efficiently.
Elder Care in Berwyn PA: How Long Does Stroke Recovery Take?
You likely hope your parents medical team will be able to give you a clear timeline for just how long it will take your parent to recover, as well as individual milestones that they will reach throughout the recovery. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Recovery from a stroke is a very personal experience, and your parent will recover on their own timeline, and at their own pace. Because each person is an individual, and goes into the stroke recovery process with their own health issues, as well as other factors that go into how they will respond to stroke care, the recovery process must be approached in an individual way.
This does not mean that the doctor will not be able to give your senior recovery goals, or help you to understand the basic timeline. It is important to realize, however, that your parent’s individual needs, and their individual pace of recovery should be respected and supported in order for them to get the most benefit from each aspect of their care. The most rapid improvements will likely occur in the earliest hours, days, and weeks after your parent suffers a stroke. After that, improvements will slow down, and they may even experience setbacks. It is extremely important that you stay in close contact with the medical team to discuss each stage of the recovery and, and make sure your parent is making improvements. The doctor may be able to identify other ways to enhance their recovery, and improve their health.
Starting elder care can be one of the most beneficial, effective, and meaningful decisions that you can make throughout the course of your caregiver journey with your senior adult. The highly personalized services of an elderly home care services provider can ensure that your parent gets the support, care, and assistance they need to live the healthiest, safest, and most comfortable lifestyle possible as they age in place while also supporting greater independence. This can be particularly meaningful if your senior has recently suffered a serious medical condition such as a stroke. This care provider can help your parent understand the treatment and prescription guidelines given by their doctor to support compliance, encourage them to eat a healthier diet, support a more active lifestyle, and give them the companionship and emotional care that will help them live better throughout and after their recovery. Starting elder care for your aging parent should be part of your earliest planning after they suffer a stroke. The sooner you integrate this care into your care routine, the sooner your parent, and you, can enjoy the benefits.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Berwyn, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
Source
Is There an Ideal Time to Look Into Senior Care Services?
Is there an ideal time to start researching your parent’s options? One thing is certain of life. You never know what’s going to get tossed your way. Your parents might be fine today. They’re still full of energy and walk for miles every day.
A week from now, your mom’s memory may start slipping. A year from now, she might be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Your dad could have a stroke tomorrow. You don’t want to think the worst, but you should have a plan in place just in case.
Senior Care in Collegeville PA: Looking Into Senior Care Services
Topics That Plan Must Cover.
Open a discussion with your parents about what they want if their situation changes. Do they want you providing the care they need? Do they like the idea of having to move to a new place? That would happen if they opted for assisted living housing.
Talk about your own life. If you’re providing senior care, what are you sacrificing? Will you have to take hours away from your job or children? If you have to quit your job, can you afford it?
Ask your parents what measures they’d want to be taken if they can’t speak for themselves. Do they have advance directives in place with their doctor and hospital? Who is their medical power of attorney? Do they even have legal paperwork covering that topic? If they don’t, they could have doctors making their life choices for them.
Go Through the House.
Many seniors feel comfortable and safe in their current home. It’s uncommon for a senior to want to pack up and move when health or mobility decline. If your parents feel that way, how safe is their home?
It’s a good time to look over the house and see if any improvements are necessary. Your mom and dad have two bathrooms, but in each one, the bathroom door is only 24 inches wide. What happens if your mom or dad requires a wheelchair after a fall? A wheelchair requires a doorway that’s at least 32 inches. You might need to move or widen the opening. Is that possible?
If your parents can’t handle staircases, can they still get to their bedroom or main living areas? Will they need to have a stairlift installed? Do they have the money for that? Are railings on the interior and exterior staircases sturdy and free of splinters? Are any rugs or carpets loose? Are grab bars installed near the toilet and shower or tub?
Once you have an idea of what your parents want as their abilities decline, you can talk to senior care professionals. They can talk about the process, creating a budget, and how to come up with a suitable schedule. Make the decision for senior care after you’ve gained knowledge and really discussed what your parents want. Call today to get started.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Collegeville, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
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