Richard BitnerHome Care Options
Study Finds Seniors Need In-Home Medical Care — But Face Few Options At Visiting Angels, we know the importance of in-home care, and we know that for millions of American seniors, it is important that care comes to them and not the other way around. Thankfully, the market for non-medical in-home care is bigger than ever. Now, housebound or mobility-limited seniors are able to get much of the support and care they need in the comfort of their own homes. But when it comes to doctor’s visits, it’s a completely different story. These days, it’s almost impossible for seniors to
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Carol MarakPatient Advocate vs Geriatric Care Manager
A few weeks ago, a reader asked, "Can you tell me the differences between a geriatric care manager and a patient advocate? I hear the two terms frequently and wonder if they are the same?" Here are the basic differences: A Patient Advocate can assist anyone of any age - not limited to someone who is elderly, or at least over a 'certain age,' as a geriatric case manager would be. A Geriatric Care Manager does not focus strictly on healthcare. Their work is broader with some emphasis on finances, housing, and other aspects of life that change as we
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Kathy MacaraegCaregiver Self-Care When You Don’t Have Time
Caregivers rarely have time for self-care. Between regular “life” tasks and caring for another adult, there isn’t much time to practice self-care. While people harp on the importance of self-care, they rarely step in to give the caregiver time to actually practice self-care. So, many caregivers just drop self-care from their to do list. It’s the easiest thing to drop, yet it is critical to a caregiver’s well-being. Caregiver Self-Care When You Don’t Have Time While the thought of adding one more thing to your to do list may be overwhelming, remember, if you don’t care for yourself, you can’t
Continue readingCombatting Loneliness in Seniors
While worrying about your parents’ social connections doesn’t seem like it should be at the top of your list of concerns, it actually is so much more important that we realize. Did you know that feelings of loneliness can negatively affect both physical and mental health? Additionally, isolation is linked to cognitive decline and puts seniors at a higher risk for elder abuse. Combatting Loneliness in Seniors So, how do we combat loneliness? I know, you’re thinking, I already have so much on my plate; I don’t have time to also be the entertainment director for my parent. It doesn’t take
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SilveradoAsk an Expert: 5 Tactics for Dementia Caregiving
Caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be an incredibly tiresome job. From the long hours to psychological exhaustion, to the physically demanding environment, there are very few ways to actively prepare for and predict the responsibilities that caregiving entails. Silverado’s Director of Clinical Education Sue Kruse shares key tactics for managing the day-to-day challenges of dementia caregivers. Ask an Expert: 5 Tactics for Dementia Caregiving 1. Communication Through Understanding According to Kruse, one of the most frustrating problem areas for individuals with dementia and their caregivers is communication. Many times, the person living with dementia
Continue readingHow to Make Holidays Special for Someone with Dementia
At Silverado, we have nearly 20 years of dedicated experience in caring for individuals with memory impairments, and in that time we’ve developed numerous best practices that have been adopted industry-wide. How to Make Holidays Special for Someone with Dementia This time of year, we like to share tips for making the holidays enjoyable for a loved with dementia. This advice centers on keeping things simple and enjoying individual moments: How to Make Holidays Special for Someone with Dementia Avoid chaos. Rather than walking someone who has dementia into a room with 10 relatives, encourage relatives to engage in one-on-one conversation,
Continue reading10 Dementia Warning Signs to Look for During Holidays
Spending time with loved ones during the holidays means it’s easier to spot all of the small changes in behavior that could mean the early stages of memory impairment. While this can cause initial feelings of worry and panic, taking the time to understand the situation is the first step in providing your mother, father, grandparent, sibling or other family member the best care possible. These are the most common signs that dementia-related changes may be taking place in the brain: Memory lapses that disrupt daily life. Forgetting newly-learned information and important dates or events. Problem-solving and planning difficulties. Difficulty concentrating and
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Guest Blogger7 Essential Resume Writing Tips for Caregivers
Writing about yourself in the form of a resume is never an easy task. However, it’s an essential part of the job-seeking process and always the first impression you’ll have with a future employer, so you’ll want to make sure that it’s perfect. 7 Essential Resume Writing Tips for Caregivers The caregiver industry is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world so if you’re looking for your next job; there’s never been a better time to do so. So you don’t miss out on your next opportunity, here are seven tips you need to know about writing the
Continue readingIf It’s Time for Hospice – Here’s some Help
When someone tells you it’s time to call hospice for someone you love, it’s one of the toughest bits of news you’ll ever hear. However, when you do get that news, you’ll still need good information. Here are a few tips. Find the Right Fit First of all, you have a choice about which hospice agency or provider will give care to your loved one. You will often be given the names of one, sometimes up to three, agencies that provide hospice care. A doctor, a hospital social worker, your elder’s nurse practitioner or someone at your elder’s care facility
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