Know What to Avoid During Chemotherapy for the Best Treatment Outcome
The benefits of chemotherapy are indisputable and can save someone’s life. However, in the process of destroying harmful cancer cells, noncancerous cells may also be in the crossfire, causing challenging side effects. The physician will offer recommendations on what cancer patients should do to minimize these effects, but it is just as important to know what to avoid during chemotherapy.
The Life-Changing Benefits of Purposeful Living for Seniors
Purposeful living for seniors opens new doors to health, happiness, and fulfillment each day.
What exactly is it that gets you out of bed every day? If you’re part of the sandwich generation, providing care for both older and younger loved ones, your list is probably quite extensive! As the nest empties, however, it becomes important to redefine our identity and learn new ways to bring meaning to every day.
How to Overcome Family Denial of Home Care Needs
If you’re encountering family denial of home care needs for an older loved one, these tips will help everyone come to a place of agreement.
When you begin to notice the red flags that care in the home is required for someone you love, it’s very common for that individual to resist the idea. After all, acknowledging the need for assistance is not easy, especially for somebody who prizes their privacy and independence. Yet what do you do when you encounter family denial of home care needs for an older loved one? When you’ve reached an impasse within your family in regards to the need for senior care, there is one potential culprit to consider: denial.
Why Would a Family Member Deny the Need for Care in the Home?
Denial is a coping mechanism employed to protect against … Read More »
Celebrating our Veterans
On Monday, November 11, we stand together to provide sincere honor and appreciation to the courageous men and women you have given so much for our safety and freedom. We thank you for your courage, dedication, and hard work. And to the families of our Veterans, we thank you for all of your support, resilience, and sacrifice. It is our honor to be able to provide exceptional service and support to the Veterans and their families in our community.
Sincerely,
~The HIRED HANDS HOMECARE Team
Irenena defines Dedication and Efficiency!
Please join us in congratulating, Irenena, as our next Caregiver of the Month!
Hired Hands Homecare has had the absolute pleasure of working with Irenena since 2016. During the past EIGHT years, she has shared her amazing care and compassion with many different families in both Sonoma and Napa counties. A few weeks ago, we were able to surprise Irenena on shift to honor her with this reward. Irenena was very surprised and her client, Nonie, was excited to join in on the celebration. Irenena is an amazing caregiver with an extremely warm heart. The Hired Hands team is so grateful for Irenena’s hard work, compassionate demeanor, dedication, and strong communication skills. On top of that, she always gives the office the best reports and shift notes! A true team player!
Irenena… what do you say?
“For me, what works is EFFICIENCY. I always … Read More »
The Emotional Journey of End-of-Life Eating Changes
When a loved one is approaching the end of life, every moment becomes even more meaningful, but it can also be a time of great emotional difficulty. One of the changes you may notice is their decreasing interest in food and drink, which can be especially distressing. Watching someone you care about stop eating can leave you feeling worried, helpless, and unsure of how to help. However, understanding why these end-of-life eating changes happen and focusing on providing comfort rather than nourishment can ease this challenging time for both you and the person you love. The goal shifts from ensuring they eat to making sure they are comfortable and at peace.
Why Eating Changes Occur at the End of Life
As a person’s body prepares for the end of life, their need for food and drink diminishes. Metabolism slows, … Read More »
What You Need to Know About End-of-Life Dementia Care
Caring for a loved one as they near the end of life is an incredibly personal journey. When Alzheimer’s disease is part of this experience, the path can become even more intricate. Unlike many other terminal illnesses, dementia progresses in unpredictable ways, requiring us to adjust our approach to end-of-life dementia care.
Identifying End-of-Life Signs in Dementia
In many diseases, the end-of-life stage is marked by noticeable changes in areas such as eating, sleeping, and socializing, often appearing two to four months before death. However, with Alzheimer’s disease, these indicators can emerge much earlier, sometimes even years in advance. These are the key signs to watch for:
Extended Sleep Patterns: Long periods of sleep can occur well before the final stages of life in someone with dementia. While this may be an early sign, it can also continue over a … Read More »
The Importance of a Daily Routine for Someone With Dementia
Have you ever woken up from a dream feeling completely disoriented? The dream seemed so real, and it takes a moment to regain your bearings. For someone with dementia, this disorientation is a part of everyday life. One highly effective way to help is to provide as much stability as possible, and one of the best ways to accomplish this is by sticking to a daily routine for someone with dementia.
How Can a Routine Help Someone With Dementia?
Short-term memory loss makes it challenging for someone with Alzheimer’s to learn and remember new things. A familiar routine helps build self-confidence, reinforce a sense of independence, and reduce anxiety.
To establish the most comfortable routine for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, try the following:
Follow their lead. Retain any routines the person already has built: a morning shower before … Read More »
Flo is such a Caregiver PRO!
The Hired Hands Team is excited to celebrate Florence as our next Caregiver of the Month!
We have had the distinct pleasure working with Florence for almost two and a half years now, and are consistently impressed by her skills and abilities to perfectly handle sometimes difficult situations. She has had amazing success with her current Client, who had a history of behavioral issues due to cognitive impairment. In a short time, and with much dedication and heartfelt work, Florence was able to completely turn the situation around. With her calm demeanor and keen attention to detail, life has become much more manageable for the Client, who has been not only able to remain safe and comfortable at home, but also to frequently visit her beloved ranch estate.
Our team had fun presenting Florence with this award while she was on shift. … Read More »
Hidden Disabilities in Seniors: How to Recognize and Combat Ableism
What’s your first thought when you see an individual in a wheelchair? Do you view that person as less-than, someone in need of being fixed? Do you assume they need special treatment, as though a physical disability impacts intellect as well? How does your thinking shift to see someone standing upright, without the need for a wheelchair; would you think they were better-abled than the wheelchair-bound older adult?
These are tough questions that call for honest answers if we’re to understand and respond accordingly to hidden disabilities in seniors and ableism.
What Is Ableism?
Ableism is identified as “the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior.” It leads to harmful misconceptions and stereotypes.
The Two Sides of the Disability Coin
Individuals with visible disabilities encounter ableism in many … Read More »
