Richard BitnerHow Home Care Can Help 6 Common Physical Difficulties
Growing older almost always comes with physical difficulties. When those challenges arise, many seniors lean on non-medical home care providers. Caregivers help seniors live more comfortably, manage existing conditions, and limit the risk of injury or illness related to their physical concerns. How Home Care Can Help 6 Common Physical Difficulties At Visiting Angels, our home care providers, regularly assist seniors with physical disabilities, challenges, and concerns. Below, we’ve listed six of the most common physical difficulties faced by seniors, along with how home care can help. Lack of Mobility Poor mobility in seniors can be caused by loss of muscle
Continue reading
Kendall VanBlarcomHow to Be a Health Advocate for Your Aging Parent
If you have an aging parent, it’s normal to be worried about their health. Moreover, if you recently stepped into the role of the caregiver for a parent with a health issue, you’ve also become their health advocate–whether you realize it or not. It’s important to take your role for your parent seriously. Here are 5 ways you can be the best health advocate for your senior. 5 Tips to Being an Awesome Health Advocate for Your Aging Parent 1. Prepare for Appointments When you have an aging parent, you’ll want to prepare for doctor’s appointments ahead of time. How to Be
Continue readingVeteran Home Care Options
Finding Veteran Home Care Through Your Local VA Hospital There are more than 20 million American veterans living today. Many of our nation’s veterans are senior-aged, and many more are living with difficulties that make it tough to live independently. For these individuals, veteran home care assistance and support can be invaluable — but it’s not always affordable when paid out of pocket. Veteran Home Care Options If you’re a veteran in need of a helping hand around the home, you should consider contacting your local VA hospital. Veterans Affairs will cover a range of medical and non-medical home services, including
Continue readingCaregiving Paradox of Quality Time with Mom or Dad
More Americans than ever before now act as family caregivers for their aging parents. At least 35 million people are expected to provide unpaid care to someone over the age of 50 in 2017. This workload falls hardest on adult children who are tasked caring for their moms and their dads. Caregiving Paradox of Quality Time with Mom or Dad Because caregiving means more time with mom or dad, many family caregivers believe that it also means more quality time with mom or dad. Unfortunately, more time doesn’t equal more quality time when you’re a family caregiver. Instead, acting as a
Continue readingWhat Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care
Moving away from home and into a care facility can be a jarring experience for seniors. While moving to an assisted living facility or a nursing home is sometimes the only option, studies* have found that these moves can have a damaging effect on the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of seniors. What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care It’s little surprise then that nearly 90% of seniors reported to the AARP* that they wished to age-in-place for as long as possible. That’s true even in situations where seniors require professional in-home care to live at home safely and
Continue reading
Kimberly JohnsonAddressing Drug or Alcohol Abuse as a Live-In Caregiver
How to Talk About Drug or Alcohol Abuse as a Live-in Caregiver and What to Look Out For When you’re a live-in caregiver, your No. 1 priority should be the health, safety and well-being of the person you’re caring for. Given the rising tide of prescription drug and alcohol abuse among today’s seniors, that entails knowing the signs of drug and alcohol abuse—and being able to talk about a potential problem with drugs or alcohol when you have suspicions. Addressing Drug or Alcohol Abuse as a Live-In Caregiver Substance Abuse and the Elderly Substance abuse by elderly Americans—particularly of alcohol and
Continue reading
SilveradoWhy do people with Alzheimer’s remember old memories?
Navigating the journey of a loved one’s memory loss to Alzheimer’s can be quite difficult, particularly understanding why some memories fade while older memories may be resurrected. A common question is why--and how--does someone with Alzheimer’s remember old memories while new memories fade? Though the workings of the brain can still be mysterious in a lot of ways, research has suggested a few reasons. Why do people with Alzheimer's remember old memories? The best explanation is that Alzheimer’s affects recent memories first, debilitating retention of new information. Memories of childhood or from long ago are well encoded since the person has
Continue reading
Kathy MacaraegSimple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care
Caregivers have a difficult time getting away from caregiving to take a vacation or even a spa day. However, it is critical to a caregiver’s well-being to take time for themselves and practice self-care. So, how can you work self-care into your life to preserve your well-being? I’ve rounded up 20 easy self-care activities you can do at home that take less than 20 minutes. While you may think, I can’t even take 20 minutes for myself, remember, it is crucial to your health that you take time for self-care. It isn’t selfish to practice self-care, it is necessary. When
Continue reading
Carol MarakAdvice Tips for New Family Caregivers
Taking on the role of a family caregiver can be confusing and riddled with unfamiliar tasks, assignments, and responsibilities. When compiling a checklist, the one thing a family member needs to know is that elder care is more than just health care issues. There are so many services to consider. Services I always recommend are the legal and financial planning aspect. My motto is always to plan for the worse but always hope for the best. Subsequently, I recommend contacting the local Area Agency on Aging also known as the Department of Aging. You can find them online by searching
Continue reading