What exactly is Swine Influenza? Learn the facts about the virus that’s catching the
attention of the news media and concerned citizens all over the US from The Center of
Disease Control and Prevention website and share your thoughts.

1.) How should this outbreak be handled?

2.) What can adults and seniors do to prevent exposure?

Please comment below with your opinions!

Image Source:
-New York Times

To be a caregiver, you don’t have to live in the same city, or even in the same state as your elderly family member. Many family caregivers care for loved ones from long distances by coordinating care services, making care related decisions and monitoring the care being provided to their elderly family member from afar. While many long distance caregivers do rely on home care professionals or other members of the family to provide day-to-day care for the senior when necessary; long distance caregivers still play a substantial role in senior care.

What can you do as a long distance caregiver for your loved one?
•    Assess the care needs of your loved one by talking to them, other family members and friends nearby
•    When visiting, look for signs that they may be struggling to live independently. Signs may be exhibited on them personally or by looking at their home. Go with your instincts
•    Coordinate senior care services if necessary – hire a professional non-medical caregiver, arrange for transportation, meal preparation and medication reminders to help the senior live on their own
•    Keep a phone book for the senior’s local area, and a list of friends, family members and other people that you could call on in an emergency to help the senior
•    Offer to help with financial matters, or be appointed Power of Attorney to look after the senior’s assets or medical wishes should the situation arise
•    Learn about the senior’s condition
•    Be a supportive ear when they need to talk

Sources:
1.    Caregiver-Connect.ca
2.    HowtoCare

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

A major component of Phoenix home care involves ensuring that a senior remains safe in their own home, and since stairs present a major risk for in-home falls and accidents, this is one area that should be focused on for immediate senior safety. When looking at stair safety for the elderly, Phoenix caregivers and family members should focus on both the hardware and structure of the stairs, as well as the décor and lighting that surround the area. Complete the following checklist to ensure that your elderly loved one will be safe on their stairs.

Safe Stair Structure Checklist:
•    Steps are at least 11 inches deep and each step is even
•    Steps are not slanted or loose
•    Stair surfaces have slip resistant treads
•    Handrails are on one side of the stairs, if not both sides
•    Handrails are strongly fastened and supportive
•    Handrails and banisters are no thicker around than 6.25 inches so they can be easily grabbed
•    Indicators installed on handrails let seniors know when each step is coming to an end

Safe Stair Surrounds Checklist:
•    Stairways are well-lit
•    No objects are present on stairs
•    Tops and bottoms of stairways are free of rugs and mats that might slip
•    Assistive devices have been considered to help with mobility on stairs where appropriate

Sources:
1.    Ezine Articles  Daryl Lanhker
2.    Canada Safety Council

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

For many Phoenix seniors, arthritis is one of the unfortunate realities of getting older. Fortunately, there are arthritis therapies that can alleviate some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and the associated pain that seniors experience and tools which can assist with the physical challenges that can occur. Simple arthritic therapies can be incorporated into the daily life of a senior, like an exercise program as recommended by a doctor or therapist; using thermal therapies and ice therapies with ice packs or heating packs to relieve local pain, tension and muscle spasms; and rest using splits or supports, or laying down in bed. An occupational therapist can also help seniors to learn techniques to cope with their arthritis and complete tasks hard on the joint safely.

While Phoenix elder care professionals or family caregivers can assist seniors with day-to-day tasks, seniors who live independently at home and suffer from arthritis may benefit from use of assistive devices to help with tasks that are made to difficult by the arthritis like grasping, holding, getting dressed, walking, sitting, standing, climbing stairs, walking and driving. Assistive devices and gadgets are available online from websites like Comfort House, Dynamic Living, and Ableware.

Arthritis may create additional challenges for independent seniors, but with knowledge and understanding, it can be managed without a great impact on a senior’s chosen lifestyle.

Sources:
1.    About.com Arthrtis
2.    WebMD

Images: www.aidsforarthritis.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Multigenerational families say that living together has its ups and downs.

Stress mixes with potisive feelings of accomplishment and communion when elderly relatives move in with boomers in Phoenix. Matthew Kaplan, Ph.D., Penn State Intergenerational Programs extension specialist, says that each family member has needs that should be addressed. Individual needs, though, need to be viewed in the context of the health of the overall benefit of the family unit.

“People need independence, but interdependence and family unity are important as well, particularly in today’s hectic and demanding world,” he adds.

Learn more about creating a healthy environment in a multigenerational home.

Sources:
1.)    Home Instead Senior Care
2.)    Makewayformom.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Elder care emergencies can happen at anytime day or night. Unfortunately, senior care issues and medical emergencies just don’t operate on a standard 9-5 schedule. So what do you do if your elderly relative requires care assistance outside of regular business hours?

Many Phoenix senior home care providers offer live-in senior care, which ensures there is a caregiver available to address a senior’s every need 24/7. Others, like Home Instead Senior Care, guarantee that a caregiver is available on call when a senior needs them 24 hours per day. If you believe that the level of care required by a senior loved one requires the availability of 24 hour eldercare, make sure you do your research and ask the right questions when selecting a senior caregiving agency. Look at the rates closely, as some may charge a much greater cost for caregivers who work outside of normal business hours; and if your choice is to hire a live-in caregiver, ensure that background and reference checks are completed so you have a greater guarantee that they are trustworthy.

Obtaining 24 hour care for a senior in Phoenix is a big decision, so don’t take it lightly! Involve your elder in the decision process as appropriate, and be thorough!

Sources:
1.    Home Instead Senior Care
2.    ForElderCare

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

This Mother’s Day, celebrate with your senior mother or grandmother with fun and inexpensive activities that are enjoyable for you to do together in Phoenix, or purchase a special gift that you know she’s been dying for. Mother’s Day is about making a female relative feel special and appreciated, and seniors are a demographic who can appreciate your efforts the most. When planning Mother’s Day activities for you and your senior, or shopping for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, keep these ideas in mind.

Gifts:

•    The perfect gift for each senior, varies upon personal taste, but consider one of the following ideas depending upon interest and budget
•    Improve their home – providing a Phoenix senior with independence they feel they’re loosing can be one of the best gifts – install personal safety devices in the bathroom and kitchen, or place a walk-in tub in the bathroom
•    Provide help – hire an in-home caregiver, or someone to clean their home or take care of the landscaping. You can even offer assistance from you for caregiving assistance on a budget in order to allow a senior to remain at home longer
•    Senior-friendly reading – for those seniors who love to read, enroll them in a large-print book club
•    Functional clothing – buy clothing that has minimal snaps or buttons which can cause dexterity challenges
•    Send her away – if she’s always wanted to take a trip, purchase a prepaid ticket to her destination of choice
•    Pamper her – purchase a spa service so she can be pampered

Sources:
1.    Associated Content  Rose Alexis
2.    Chiff

Image: www.savvy-mothers-day-gifts.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

From reading, you might already be aware of the benefits of hiring an in-home caregiver through a senior care agency, instead of choosing a privately contracted caregiver, but do you know what to look for in a senior care agency when making eldercare decisions for an important senior in your life?

While at face value, many Phoenix senior care agency’s services appear similar in nature. It’s what lies beneath the surface that can help you choose the right agency to provide assisted living services in the home of a senior. Choose a senior care agency that is flexible and provides a wide variety of services. While today, your senior may only need the companionship and transportation to appointments from their caregiver a few times a week; their care needs might increase or change over time. Select a caregiver agency that can adjust and adapt their care plan for your senior when required, and ensure the caregiving agency doesn’t have minimum requirements for time spent at the senior’s home. A good care agency should be available to provide as little care as a few hours a week, to long-term care at 24 hours a day.

A Phoenix caregiving agency should also listen to the needs and concerns of families, and do their utmost to match seniors with caregivers that meet their requirements, while maintaining communication with the family. All good caregiving agencies should also ensure that their caregivers are bonded, insured, thoroughly screened and trained in current eldercare procedures, so that the highest quality of senior care is always achieved.

Sources:
1.    Home Instead Senior Care
2.    CaregiverList

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

In-home senior care, like that provided by Home Instead Senior Care, is non-medical skilled care to assist seniors with Activities of Daily Living and other responsibilities which they struggle with when living independently in their own homes. However, non-medical senior care is not the only type of in-home care available to help seniors remain at home, but by understanding the different service levels of in-home care, seniors and their families can make informed choices when hiring a caregiver to ensure that their elder care needs are met.

Non-Medical Senior Care
• Senior needs assistance with running errands, getting to appointments, cooking, light-cleaning and other Activities of Daily Living which could be completed by a senior helper
• Senior could benefit from the companionship of a caregiver
• Senior needs helps with bathing, dressing, grooming or has Alzheimer’s and needs someone present for safety

Home Health Care
• Senior requires more in-depth medical care, such as administration of medications, changing of bandages, monitoring of  vital signs and more
• Senior could benefit from medical supervision by a caregiver who is a registered nurse, or visits from a doctor

Hospice Care
• In-home medical care that focuses upon keeping chronically ill seniors comfortable or providing treatment at home.
• Senior requires medical professionals to administer treatment, monitor their health or instruct family caregivers on how to provide proper eldercare at the hospice level

Sources:
1. The Gilbert Guide
2. American Cancer Society

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

4.  Next look at how will you handle the situation, if your loved one just plain doesn’t like the person who you choose to help them. Or what if the caregiver you choose gets sick? 

a. There are just some personalities that don’t mesh.  You’ll have to go through the whole screening process all over again if the personalities clash.  And a sick caregiver can cause havoc for the family.  What do you do then, cancel your plans, take a day off of work?

b. HISC has hundreds of caregivers screened, trained and ready to go when you need them.  We have people ready to fill in on short notice.

5. Who will train your caregiver?  Sure no matter who comes, you will need to show them where things are, give them a tour, tell them the important  things. 

a. But do you have the expertise to provide top notch training?

b. Home Instead Senior Care trains every caregiver.  Our basic caregiver training program is 3 days long plus there is an additional in depth training process for Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

In these tough economic times there are plenty of people looking for work but if you hire just anybody what kind of care will your loved one really get?  You can be sure and feel confident in the quality of the caregiver Home Instead Senior Care provides.