Phoenix Aging Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Caregiver need to understand the importance of their own health. If they do not allow themselves some respite time, they will quickly become run down. When this happens, the caregiver runs the risk of getting ill. They will then be unable to provide the necessary services to the senior that relies on them. The list below provides caregivers with some useful tips for staying healthy, mentally and physically.

1. Caregivers should remember that they are not alone. The role of a caregiver can be stressful, exhausting and demanding. Many times, caregivers suffer from depression. While it may seem like the caregiver must do this alone, family and friends can offer much support and make a big difference.

2. Caregivers need to know their strengths. It is important to reward yourself for a job well done. Knowing your strengths as well as your limitations will help you become a better caregiver.

3. Many caregivers neglect their own health because they are so preoccupied with caring for a senior. Your personal health should be your number one priority. Never put aside your own health needs.

4. It is ok to ask for help. If you begin feeling overwhelmed, there is no shame asking for help. This could be as simple as words of encouragement. Family members may also be able to help you care for an elderly relative. This can make a huge difference because you will not be responsible for every aspect of care. It is ok to take a break!

5. Caregivers need to be an advocate for seniors. It is important for every caregiver to know their own rights in addition to the rights of the senior receiving assistance or treatment.

Source: thefamilycaregiver.org

Hiring a caregiver is not always an easy task. There are various factors that will come into play, including the kinds of services needed and the type of financial funding available. Many agencies, such as Home Care Phoenix, provide caregivers on a daily basis. These caregivers assist seniors in many ways, from shopping to medical care. Regardless of the specific need, a caregiver can make a world of difference in the life of a senior who needs a little assistance. The list below contains some helpful tips when looking to hire a caregiver.

1. Check local Home Care Agencies. These companies staff many caregivers. However, they do provide different levels of service, so take the time to make sure all services that are needed can be provided.

2. If the senior in need of a caregiver is approved for care that will be paid for by Medicare, the Health Care Agency must be Medicare certified. This ensures that the agency meets the minimal federal requirements.

3. If the senior only requires personal care or homemaking services, caregivers do not have to come from an agency that is certified for Medicare.

4. If there is no Medicare coverage, the cost of the caregiver will have to be paid by the person receiving services. These services can be expensive, but there are some low rates for personal care attendants, also known as PCA’s. They are typically paid by the hour at rates between $13 and $35.

5. Do not be afraid to contact multiple agencies. It is important to find the right caregiver that will provide all services needed by the senior.

Source: thefamilycaregiver.org

It’s November, and whether you’re a senior who receives care from a family member, or someone who has an elderly relative that’s cared for another member of the family, now’s the time to show the caregiver just how much you appreciate their efforts for National Family Caregiver’s Month, and here are some great ways to do it:

1. Give them a break – offering to provide respite care or hiring someone to step in can allow caregivers to relax or reconnect with friends and family

2. Remind local businesses what this month means – then encourage them to offer freebies or discounts for family caregivers in the area!

3. Lend them a hand with holiday preparations – the holidays can create added responsibility, so help a caregiver decorate for the holidays or put stamps on their cards

4. Get them laughing – go see a funny movie with them, or pick up tickets to a local comedy club. Laugher IS the best medicine!

5. Take over holiday hosting responsibilities – caregivers already have a lot on their plates; host Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday celebration so the caregiver can simply focus on enjoying the company!

6. Sign the petition – there’s a petition to establish a stamp that recognizes family caregivers; sign it in their honor!

7. Create something personal – a personalized gift, like a calendar with family photos, will help them feel like they’re appreciated, and it will help them stay organized

8. Send them a token of appreciation – a bouquet of flowers or a card might not be a big gesture, but it will make caregivers feel appreciated and special

9. Connect them with caregiving resources – free seminars and other events take place to keep caregivers better informed and help them manage stress

10. Lend your support – give them an ear to talk to, or help them find a support group

Via: The Family Caregiver

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 most cases, seniors and decision-makers wait too long before addressing the need for senior care.  The result of this is that health may decline either quickly or progressively because the senior may not be taking their medications correctly, eating a well balanced diet or following the orders of their health care professionals.  The other possibility is that they will grow weak and have a fall causing them to be hospitalized.  All of these problems can be avoided if families see the signs of decline and move swiftly to ensure they have the help they need at home.

Two-thirds of seniors report obtaining care after they have what they describe as a “pivotal incident.”  A pivotal incident is commonly defined as a fall or other kind of accident.  However, in most cases the incident is actually the result of a chronic condition sucn as arthritis or dementia that should have been addressed much sooner.

In the course of dealing with chronic and persistent conditions, there is a tipping point where decision-makers decide that care has grown beyond their capacity.  The age of the senior when this tipping point is usually reached may be anywhere between 70 and 90, depending on a wide variety of individual factors.  A relatively small number of seniors, 10 percent are under 70 when they are recommended for senior home care.

Average Age Recommended for In-Home Senior Care:

Age:                          % Recommended:

50-60                        2%

60-70                        7%

70-80                        43%

80-90                        49%

90+                            0%

By working with either an independent care manager or a professional, who understands the changes that seniors go through that lead up to needing either assisted living or assistance at home, families can stay ahead of their seniors needs.  Home Instead Senior Care can conduct in home assessments to help with the process of understanding the maze of options available.

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.

During the winter months, the prevalence of cold and flu seem to increase. Seniors can pick up viruses by touching money, hand railings, or other objects that many hands have passed over. Since often older adults have weaker immune systems, it’s important that they take the appropriate steps to prevent and treat colds and flu so they do not develop into more serious health complications, like sinus infections, earaches, bronchitis and pneumonia; which can be life-threatening.

In order to treat symptoms, seniors should make sure they get plenty of rest and drink many fluids to stave off dehydration; water and clear broths are some of the best choices. Gargling with salt water or throat lozenges and sprays will help relieve sore throats, salt water nose drops can loosen mucus and moisturize, and smoking and alcohol should be avoided. Over-the-counter medications for cold and flu can also help reduce symptoms.

If seniors are uncertain whether or not their symptoms require them to see a doctor, it can be safer to have a consultation before more critical problems develop. However, there are a few surefire rules where immediate medical care should be sought; if a senior has a prolonged fever of over 102 F, symptoms last for more than 10 days, symptoms seem to be getting worse instead of better, they are experiencing shortness of breath or having trouble breathing, they are fainting or feel like they might, confusion or disorientation has occurred, vomiting is severe and persistent, a sore throat or cough lasts more than 10 days or when a senior has pain in their face or forehead.

Sources: http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/is-it-cold-flu
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/infections/cold-flu/073.html

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.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Driving Safety with Brain Fitness Program

While some elder care experts and families of seniors living in Phoenix believe it’s better to keep older adults off the road; many in the senior care industry are now focusing upon allowing them to remain safely behind the wheel.

A few basic tips to allow seniors to maintain this form of independence include choosing a senior-safe car, using assistive devices and changing driving habits with the help of training and assessment programs.

However, seniors looking to further improve their driving skills can try a new brain fitness software program called InSight. The software has been involved in over a dozen National Institute of Health studies, which have demonstrated that it reduces dangerous driving maneuvers by up to 80% and decreases stopping distance by 22 feet on average, when traveling 55mph.

Major insurance carrier, Allstate is currently conducting their own research with the software by testing its impact on individuals over the age of 50 in Pennsylvania. Their plan is to encourage safe driving practices in seniors by offering discounts on care insurance to people who have completed the brain fitness program.

Regardless of age, consider your driving habits and the impact they may have on your safety; could you benefit from implementing any of the above methods in your life?

Sources: http://www.positscience.com/news/view.php?contentid=511
               http://www.otworks.ca/otworks_page.asp?pageid=784

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.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Holiday Elder Care Planning

When visiting your aging parents this holiday season, you may discover that they are struggling in their lifestyle. You may noticed that their home is dirty and cluttered; whereas it could have once been featured in ‘Good Living’ magazine; they may have stacks of unpaid bills; they may physically appear as though they’re struggling to meet the hygienic needs; they may display evidence of injuries of falls; or they may have a stockpile of unused, required medications.

Whatever the signs that they need help may be, while with them over the holidays, take the opportunity to make arrangements for their care. Because once you return home and are plane rides away, the process of coordinating this for them will be nearly impossible.

Here are a few ways you can make sure that the senior in your live is taken care of, happy, health and safe throughout the year.

1) Hire a professional caregiver to help them with independent living. This can be for as few hours or as many days as you feel is necessary. The right person, should be able to help them with their every need; so decide on medical or non-medical care

2) Make sure a friend or neighbor who lives nearby can check up on them, offer companionship and be turned to in emergencies

3) If you feel moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility may be necessary, take the opportunity to visit them and conduct interviews so you can help make an informed decision

4) Find a support group. You can visit a local support group for caregivers to learn more about resources for seniors in your parent’s area, or you can seek support for them for issues that they’re facing

5) Purchase and install home safety devices to help prevent accidents and injuries when living in their own homes

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.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Home for the holidays! We’re excited to go home, see mom and dad, re-visit ole’ memories, and ready to make new ones. This is what we carry with us while driving back home or boarding the plane to fly to our aging parent’s home for the holidays.

It seems, in our heart, that we are still children. Those wonderful times growing up fills our minds and hearts with joy, hope, and gratitude. That’s what makes the holiday time special. It’s the memories and re-living them.

Not to spoil the fun - but let’s be prepared for what you might see when walking into your parent’s home this year. How long has it been since your last visit? A year? Six months? Whatever the number or timeframe, we want to prepare you so that your mouth doesn’t visibly drop when walking through their door!

• Your parents may have aged considerably, looking frail and weak.
• They may have lost their zest for life! (In you opinion)
• They may appear to be down or depressed.
• You may wonder if they are suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.
• You may walk into the kitchen finding empty cupboards!
• Mom may not have baked your favorite cookies!

If you find yourself wondering about any of the above, don’t panic.

What can you do with all the information you experience about mom and dad? May we suggest a few tips to help you filter through these discoveries?

1. Know that your parents are getting older, it’s a fact of life.

2. As we age, people slow down.

3. As we get older, our interests change.

4. Try not to change your parents and make them into who they used to be.

5. Talk with them. Listen to them, don’t make them guilty for the people they are today.

This will bring you closer together and help all of you involved to make happy memories!

Happy Holidays!!

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.

Debbie Seplow, invites you to learn how Home Instead Senior Care Greater Phoenix helps family caregivers select the best home care for aging mom and dad.

Caregiving Decision Making

After a few years of caring for my elderly mother part-time and falling into the demographic I have learned is called the ‘sandwich generation’; caregivers providing care for aging parents, while managing jobs and responsibilities for their immediate families, I began to feel the pressure. I knew that for my own well-being, and that of my mom’s, I just couldn’t do it all.  I came to the decision that I would need to hire someone to care for her, in her home; part-time at first, with the potential to grow into a full-time position if required.

I discussed my requirements with a friend who had already been through the process; she said short of having an HR degree, there are a few things I can do to make the process easier. She recommended that first I make a list of standard questions and required documentation and then draft out a complete job description. My requirements for the job description included part-time hours where the caregiver would be responsible initially for cooking, cleaning, driving my mom to appointments and helping her bathe.

They would have to be experienced working with seniors in a care capacity, but wouldn’t need to have a nursing degree. I wasn’t concerned about dress code, provided they appeared neat and professional and knew my mom would relate well to someone who was open, friendly, and treated her like family.

My friend suggested that I check out Home Instead Senior Care - they provide professional CAREGivers, they also will come out to mom’s home for the interview, and made certain the CAREGiver meets our qualifications and mom’s needs! 

Before hiring the person, Home Instead performed the background check. They also confirmed the professional caregiver’s references. For the past 5 years now, a lovely CAREGiver has been coming into my mom’s home and is doing a great job. This has allowed me to take a step back and manage all my responsibilities; I know now that my mother is in better hands.

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.

Signs that mom needs home care in Phoenix

Debbie Seplow, invites you to learn how Home Instead Senior Care Greater Phoenix helps family caregivers select the best home care for aging mom and dad.

A family member’s story:

It wasn’t until my mother was in her mid 70’s that I began to wonder if it was safe for her to be living alone. While I knew this day would come at some point, I hadn’t worried too much about her when my father was still alive; once they retired they fell into a routine that worked from them to manage their daily duties and remaining safe and healthy.

My sister and I began to notice a change in my mother after the death of my father a few years earlier; naturally for a period she withdrew from many of her social activities and started to neglect her diet and the maintenance of her household to get through the mourning period.

We became concerned, when after a couple of years, it didn’t seem like things were looking up for her; she still wasn’t attempting to take back control of her life. My mother had always been so worried about keeping her home spotless, I can remember as a child being scolded if one ornament was put out of place, or if I didn’t make my bed first thing in the morning.

So it was such a drastic change to see spoiled food sitting in the fridge, dust gathering on shelves and counters, and magazines and books stashed under the furniture. I began to stop by her house more often to try and give her a hand; I made sure that she had a well-stocked fridge of nutritious foods, and occasionally tidied up the home.

A friend had recommended Home Instead Senior Care, so I contacted them. Now I can rest assure that her house is clean; she’s getting regular, healthy meals; her mail is being opened and her bills paid; and most importantly, she has someone to remind her to take her medications. These days my mother is more than just getting by, she’s well cared for, healthy and content.