SilveradoHow to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia
A person with dementia can become agitated for a number of reasons such as pain, fatigue, confusion, or restlessness. Agitation is indicated by feelings of anxiety or becoming upset very quickly. Loved ones and caregivers should be cognizant of how to prevent or respond to these cases by taking a few precautions. How to Prevent Agitation in Loved One with Dementia [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_KVCWAiv8Y[/embed] Dr. Elizabeth A. Landsverk, Silverado Belmont Hills Medical Director, suggests three ways to reduce or prevent agitation with dementia patients: Remove medicationsthat cause any agitation or more confusion, such as Xanax or sleeping pills. It’s best to consult
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Richard BitnerHome Care After Hospitalization Saves Money and Lives
After a hospital visit, there’s a lot that goes into a healthy recovery — particularly for seniors. Most elderly adults need strong support systems in place after coming home from a hospital stay, relying on their spouses, friends, and children to help them through their recovery. Home Care After Hospitalization Saves Money and Lives Increasingly, seniors are turning to another source of support after hospitalization: home care services. Elderly adults who already use home care services have found that a caregivers’ presence makes the recovery process far easier. Meanwhile, home care companies have begun to offer specialized post-hospital home care program,
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Carol MarakWhat to pack for the hospital
If an ambulance should rush to your home are you prepared? In an emergency, all one needs to worry about is to grab a bag and go. There won't be time to pack a few essentials. If you have a chronic illness that requires frequent hospital visits, or you're caring for a loved one, be sure to have a bag ready to go as you walk out the door. As a caregiver, you may have experienced numerous hospitalizations, and understand the significance of time. In a NYTimes article, Amy Goyer, AARP's caregiving expert, recommends certain items can make the hospital
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Kathy MacaraegResources to Help Caregivers
Become a caregiver for a spouse or elderly parent can be overwhelming. From managing two households to overseeing or providing personal care, it can be difficult to reach out for help when you don’t know where to turn. Whether you need help in the home or emotional support for you or your parent, reaching out can make a positive impact on your day-to-day life. These underutilized free or low cost resources are a great place to start in connecting with others and finding support on your caregiving journey. Resources to Help Caregivers Senior Centers: I am a huge fan of senior
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Kylie JohnsonWhat to consider when choosing an in-home care provider
If you are looking into hiring an in-home care provider here are some things to consider: Service availability Home health aide schedules vary between agencies. This can impact affordability and convenience when hiring a service. Home for the holidays: Does the agency offer holiday service? Many elderly people celebrate in their own homes, making it crucial for an assistant to be available during these days. Part-time option: Not all seniors need round-the-clock care, so a part-time option helps keep costs low. Overtime service: Family members responsible for primary care may face a late day at the office, bad traffic or
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Home health aides Home health aides are professionals who can help with self-care, housework, cooking and more. They might also perform some basic medical tasks. Home health aides sometimes have medical training, so they might be certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs). However, there aren’t any specific standards requiring a home health aide to have particular training or certification. If you’re looking for someone to help with any medical-related tasks, ask about certifications when choosing your provider. Medicare or Medicaid might pay for help from a home health aide. Nurses Home care nurses often handle the basic
Continue readingHow to Be A Long Distance Caregiver
Whether you live across the state or across the country, caring for a parent from a distance has many challenges. Before they needed care, it was easy to stay connected between phone calls, visits and video calls. But once they begin to need care, it can be difficult to know what they need and how to get proper help when you aren’t nearby – especially if they don’t want to accept that they aren’t as independent as they were in the past. How to Be A Long Distance Caregiver Maybe you went home for the holidays and were shocked that your
Continue readingHow to choose a home care provider
1. Write down all the care services needed Start by making a complete list of all the tasks you or your loved one needs help with. Once you have this list, you can decide whether you need one provider or a few with different specialties. 2. Screen over the phone first Next, call the companies that advertise the services you need and confirm that their employees can do everything needed. Use the list of questions from Eldercare.gov to ensure your loved one will receive quality care. 3. Interview in the resident’s home If a provider meets your standards after talking
Continue readingHow To Be a Caregiver for a Difficult Person
Stay Sane When You Are Caring For A Challenging Caree Ideally, the person you provide care for is thankful and happy to have you in their life, caring for their personal, physical and emotional needs. Unfortunately, in the real world, sometimes being a caregiver is hard. Your caree may be angry that they need care or struggle with pain or frustration over their new situation, making you their easiest target. Or, maybe they weren’t very pleasant to begin with and you are stepping up regardless of their disposition. How To Be a Caregiver for a Difficult Person It can be extremely
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