Posts Tagged ‘senior care’

Companion Care: Getting To Understand It

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

In these days of very clinical medical environments, companion care is an alternative that deals more with the emotional and social well-being of a patient. Instead of focusing strictly on physical health, the idea here is that as well as being that type of healthy, you should also feel good about yourself as well; that they are in fact connected.

What good is it, after all, if you are healthy but unhappy? People need to feel emotionally and mentally good as well, and constantly reminded that they are social creatures. The happiness factor is the driving force behind a satisfying life, so it is important that all aspects of that happiness are considered, not just medical motivations and making sure all of the numbers are in the right places.

When you call a companion care agency to see what they offer, one of the first things that they will do is match your needs to the personality type, age, skill set, education, and background of one of their employees. Sometimes the people they match you with can do things like physical therapy, cleaning, and housework as well.

To get a quick idea of what types of services are available in your area, do a quick search online, and also call any local hospitals to see if there is anyone around they specifically recommend. Remember though, that the common thread for successful companion care is the insistence on holistic formats and the emotional feeling of contentment and social connectivity within the normal parameters of life.

Now that you’ve hired a companion care professional, you deserve to know what the basic expectations will be for the next period of time. Essentially, the staff can do super generic activities like checking temperature and blood pressure, but most of the emphasis will be on things like making sure the patient stays active and keep a social circle open and involved with their lives.

Companion care is not just for the elderly, either. If a pregnant woman needs someone to help her through the process, that service is available as well, and if a family needs a more professional or medically trained version of a babysitter or nanny, that is a definitely option as well.

Once your companion care officially starts, you should be constantly assessing and evaluating the quality of the service, and make sure that you are getting the most for your money. If your companion loses focus on the ultimate goal, you should politely but clearly remind them that they need to be doing their job.

After a little bit of searching, I am positive that you will find exactly what you are looking for in the companion care field, and then let the experts fill you in on any details to get you and your loved ones moving toward the final goal of life satisfaction.

Jessica is healthcare professional who specializes in home health care in Oakbrook Terrace. You may also be interested in reading more information about Lifecare Services.

Senior Home Care: Time To Decide

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

If you don’t want to put your elderly parent in a nursing home or hospital, but you also don’t want the stress of having to spend too much of your time taking care of them, then they answer may lie in the senior home care field, where a qualified professional comes to your house to handle things.

Take a moment to weigh the costs and the benefits. It may actually be less of a financial burden to you, rather than paying expensive hospital bills or the type of money that you can sink into a nursing home before you even know what is happening. This is the least stressful option, and you also can continue to have your family routines.

Caregivers offer different types of services depending on your needs, and they can range from the medical to the emotional and social.  They can take care of medication and injections, or they can make sure that you remain social and active with other people who have similar interests or hobbies. The process is holistic.

If you call your local hospital, they can tell you what types of these agencies are near to you, and they can also recommend places based on the specific needs of your situation. Word of mouth also works, so if you ask any of your friends about their experiences, you can add that information to your internal database.

After the actual initiation of the care, your expectations of service can include activities like taking temperature and heart rate reading, making sure dietary needs and calculated and met accordingly, if the patient is in any kind of pain, if they feel that their routine is behind upheld and that all safety measures are being afforded.

The caregiver will also provide you with something called a plan of care. This is a document that lays out all of the necessary equipment that will be required to take care of the person at the house, and will include a mission statement about what sorts of progress should be made during treatment.

If you have any questions during the times that home care is provided, all staff members should answer them promptly and honestly, and there should be nothing that you don’t understand or are not aware of.

The whole point of senior home care is to give the best possible treatment to a senior where he or she is comfortable, and also to let you continue living your life with as little infringement as possible on the ability to live your own life happily.

Jessica is healthcare professional who specializes in home health care in Oakbrook Terrace. You may also be interested in reading more information about Lifecare Services.

Important Information About Communication With A Hearing Impaired Senior

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

One of the most common and noticeable problems we all face as we age is a loss of hearing.  It is an all too prevalent problem, and around 60 percent of people aged between 65 and 74 have some type of hearing problem, with half of those over 84 experiencing a total loss of hearing. In the event you are employed at a senior care facility, or work for a home care company like Retire At Home in Victoria, you may have an idea how difficult a problem this can be to cope with.  However, there are some simple steps that you can decide to use make it easier to communicate. Remember, you may well be in the same position yourself at some point, and may have difficulty hearing.

Tips to Better Communication With Hearing Impaired Seniors

*   Although it sounds obvious, if your senior wears a hearing aid, check that it is actually turned on, is fitted correctly and has a working battery. Many seniors do not bother to take care of their hearing aid, and won’t let anyone know that it is not working.

*   When talking to an older person, try to talk to them at their level; if they’re sitting, make sure you are seated too, and talk directly to them.  They may not hear you if you’re looking away, or are standing on the other side of the room. Keep your hands away from your face when talking, and make certain you are not eating or chewing gum.

*   Background noise can be a problem.  If you are trying to talk to a hearing impaired person in a noisy environment, they will have much more difficulty hearing you. Many older people listen to the television at a much louder volume than you would do; it is acceptable to turn the volume down to talk.

*   If a senior is having more trouble hearing you than usual, it is a sure sign that they may be sick or tired.

*   Your conversation will be easier to understand if you use simple and short sentences. Try rephrasing something, rather than simply repeating the same thing over again.  Making gestures and using exaggerated facial expressions can also be us eful.

*   Try not to shout, even though it is instinctive to do this. Rather, speak loudly and clearly and make sure that you enunciate words clearly. Try not to rush your speech, which will simply make it harder to understand you.

Although some seniors live in nursing homes or assisted living homes, the majority either live at home or with a family member.  If you’re taking care of a senior whose hearing isn’t what it used to be, a reliable home care provider can ensure that your loved one has an experienced caregiver. If you have enjoyed and got some value from this post… We have discovered other blogposts like this one about amazing online businesses that you may find interesting also.  If you like this short article, then why not share it online on Google+?

Help For Seniors With Arthritis: Key Considerations

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

One disease that is extremely frustrating and can cause extreme weakness and fatigue is arthritis. Fortunately, a quality home health care provider, such as Retire At Home, a personal care provider in Edmonton, can help make it easier for seniors to cope with. A home care companion can assist with some of the activities of daily living, such as medication management, exercising and preparing healthy meals.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition that occurs when the fluid in the joints becomes inflamed..  Stiffness, pain and swelling in the joints tend to be the symptoms that are most often associated with this condition.  The cartilage in the joints begins to deteriorate as a person ages, which is why arthritis is really so common among seniors.  In fact, studies have shown that over half of people over the age of 65 have some form of arthritis. Long-term chronic pain and disability are complications that can result if arthritis is left untreated.

What Challenges Does Arthritis Create for a Senior Who is Living Alone?

Arthritis is very frustrating to deal with, but it can be even harder for a senior who lives alone to cope with.  This condition causes stiffness, which often can affect a person’s mobility. Seniors with arthritis may have trouble completing some of the activities of daily living. They may in addition have trouble getting the items that they require because they discover it is too painful just to walk or drive.

How Can a Home Health Care Worker Benefit Someone Who has Arthritis?

People who have a relative with arthritis should consider hiring a home health care worker. Here are some of the ways that a senior care professional can help somebody who is suffering from arthritis:

* A home health care worker can help with some of the activities of daily living.

Senior citizens who have a home health care aide do not have to worry about cooking, shopping, cleaning and other household activities because they have a professional to perform those tasks for them. Additionally, a home care aide can also help a senior with activities such as bathing, dressing and grooming.

* A home health care worker can certainly help prepare nutritious meals.

Researchers have found that eating a diet that is filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds can help reduce some of the arthritis symptoms.  A home health care provider could actually help prepare nutritious meals for a senior.

* A home health care provider can certainly help the senior exercise.

Studies have shown that regular, low-impact exercise can also alleviate several of the symptoms of arthritis. A home health care worker can help a person safely exercise.

* A home health care worker can deal with medication management.

Most patients with arthritis are prescribed medication by their doctors

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Making Senior Home Care Safe

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

There’s much to senior home care that you should also do on your own. Even if it meant that you have a care assistant to rely on, you should still consider the fact that these people are not your relatives. They have not been around far too long to live with your parents. So the least you can do is make sure that the home of your folks is safe enough to explore.

You should also make sure that you have a fire extinguisher present. This way, the care professional and your folks would have something in cases of emergency. You should also inspect the electrical wirings within the home. Make sure that no cords are strewn disorganized and that the wires are not loose too.

The bathroom should also become a safe place for your folks and the senior home care assistant. During night time, instruct the caregiver to leave the lights on especially inside the bathroom of your folks. You should also keep tabs on the bathroom essentials and make sure they are replenished.

To make sure that the bathroom also becomes a safer place for the folks, you should color-code the hot and cold button of the tap. Check the door locks too just to avoid folks or even the senior home care assistant from being accidentally locked indoors.

Aside from the bathroom, the kitchen also deserves to have a second look. First, look at the floors and make sure that they are all plastered well. Take note of tiles that are broken and sticking out. Just as it is with the bathroom, it would also be a good idea to mark the appliance switch with color codes.

At this point you can’t afford to have sharp objects wandering about. Keep all of the knives in a specific rack so that you can avoid accidents. You should also consider switching to making your folks use an automatic kettle instead so that it would just shut off once the water boils.

Finally, you can also do a few important things help the senior home care assistant?s medical tasks become easier. First, you can provide your folks with a tablet organizer so that their medications can be already organized according to how many and what type they should take every day.

You should always make it a point to drop by your folks home and even ask their senior home care assistant for any concerns. Do it at least once a week just to make sure that everything is still in its right order.

Laura is healthcare professional who specializes in senior home care in Mount Pleasant.