Benefits of Home Care

Learn when it’s a good idea to designate a guardian for a senior parent.

In an ideal world, our family relationships would all be helpful and positive. We would manage transitional times cooperatively, smoothly, and without any disagreement. As our parents grew older, it would be a simple process to satisfy their current needs and their changing future needs.

Being a better advocate for your older loved ones begins with these four tactics.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Serving as an advocate for your older loved ones is perhaps one of the greatest honors – and responsibilities – you’ll have as a family caregiver. It means fully comprehending their needs and wishes, and communicating them to those who can help to make sure they’re achieved.

These four simple tips can make a big difference in helping you gain energy as a caregiver.

Providing care for someone else can be exhausting. Add in the shortened daylight hours of fall that we’re beginning to experience, along with the everyday stressors in life, and it’s no wonder so many of us are feeling worn down and sluggish. Try these ideas from our home care team to help you shift from feeling fatigued to fabulous and gain energy as a caregiver.

Consume more high-energy, complex carbs. If the hectic pace of life or simply ingrained habits have you grabbing a quick bowl of sugary cereal for breakfast, snacking on chips and soda, and seeking out comfort foods like macaroni and cheese or white bread, it’s only natural for your energy level to be sapped. Instead, choose whole grains, … Read More »

These tips will guide you in how to care for someone with a progressive disease.

It might have been expected, or perhaps broadsided you without warning. Mom has just received the official diagnosis for a progressive disease that is likely to make independent life difficult. While there are a number of uncertainties, one thing is for sure: she is adamant about remaining at home – meaning you’ll have to learn how to care for someone with a progressive disease.

Welcome to the world of family caregiving! If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with what can be expected next, these recommendations will help.

Discover as much as you’re able to about the disease. The older adult’s doctor can provide you with resources and educational materials to help you know what to anticipate and to gain confidence in your caregiving role.
Prioritize … Read More »

Discover how to improve resilience in older adults in four simple steps.

Did you ever encounter someone so inspiring that it completely changed your viewpoint on life? It might lead you to pause and wonder what it is about that person that supplies them with the drive and strength to stand out from the crowd. This type of resilience in older adults is especially encouraging, showing us that whatever comes our way, at whatever age, life is beautiful, rich, and fulfilling.

At the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at Columbia University, research workers decided to examine this further with their “Exceeding Expectations” project. They followed 20 elderly New Yorkers from diversified backgrounds and cultures for a two-year time period. Here is what they learned about the resiliency of these extraordinary individuals.

They never let their obstacles define them. … Read More »

Learn how to help seniors live longer and better with these tips.

What inspires you to get up out of bed every morning? The answer is different for every one of us, of course, but there’s one commonality: it could extend your life. Scientific studies are showing us that having a feeling of purpose is a key way to help seniors live longer and better, something evidenced in Japan – the country with the highest life expectancy on earth.

Remarkably, there is no word for our definition of “retirement” in the Japanese language. There is, instead, a concentration on maintaining purpose and meaning beyond a person’s working years and defining themselves according to their current passions and pastimes.

So just how can we help older adults – and ourselves – stay involved in what sparks interest and makes … Read More »

Taking steps to learn how to be the best possible caregiver will improve life in a variety of ways for the person in your care – and yourself.

If someone were providing care for you, how would you want that caregiver/care receiver relationship to look? What qualities would shift that level of care from ordinary to extraordinary? Placing yourself in the shoes of the person in your care is the first step to learning how to be the best possible caregiver – something that will have a lasting impact on both your family member and yourself!

With so many similarities, can you tell the difference between dementia and medication side effects?

Disorientation. Confusion. Memory loss. While these are certainly hallmark symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, they may also come about from taking certain medications. Before automatically assuming an inevitable diagnosis of dementia, review the following list of prescribed medicines that can cause similar adverse effects in order to help tell the difference between dementia and medication side effects.

If you’re feeling angry about dealing with aging parents, know that you’re not alone, and there are steps you can take to help. Contact us for help.

If you were to detail the top 5 emotions you encounter in meeting the caregiving needs of your aging parents, what would they be? Maybe you would first think of emotions like compassion, love, and sometimes, even frustration or stress. Would caregiver anger make the list? In many cases, though family caretakers wouldn’t wish to admit it, it’s quite common to feel angry about caring for aging parents. Read on to learn more about caregiver anger, and reach out to Hired Hands Homecare for the support you need to step away to care for yourself!

ry implementing a daily routine for seniors who are struggling with physical or cognitive functioning problems.

Life can be full of uncertainties. For seniors who are feeling less in control of particular areas of life, such as losing cognitive or physical functioning, concentrating on what can be controlled is empowering. An excellent way to help is by establishing a daily routine for seniors, personalized to a senior’s particular interests and needs.

Keep in mind that the older adult’s routine is certainly not meant to be a rigid regimen to be adhered to, but simply the basis for predictability and structure. With the older adult’s input and direction, settle on a preferred framework for every day. A sample daily routine may look like this:

Wake up at 7:30 a.m.
Handle personal hygiene needs and get dressed
Enjoy breakfast on the porch while … Read More »