Jane is Definitely Not Plain!
Please join us in congratulating Jane as our most recent Caregiver of the Month!
Last week, we had the pleasure of surprising Jane with our Caregiver of the Month award while she was on shift with our client, Peter. Jane originally joined our Hired Hands family in February of 2015. She had taken a brief break, and we were so happy when she returned this year! Let’s just say that it didn’t take long for Jane to prove she is one of our Best, and quite deserving of this award!
Jane goes above and beyond each day with the care she provides. Jane is a part of our live-in team and has taken on some high acuity cases during her time with Hired Hands. She never misses a beat and is an excellent reporter, which is so important to our Clients’ well … Read More »
Understanding Chemo Brain and Its Effects
Chemo brain can last for months or even years after treatment has ended.
Memory lapses, confusion, and difficulty concentrating—these symptoms could easily be attributed to Alzheimer’s, but for cancer survivors, there’s another likely culprit: chemotherapy. Referred to as chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment (CICI) or “chemo brain,” these effects can linger for months or even years after treatment concludes. It’s not exclusive to chemotherapy recipients, either; radiation, surgery, hormonal treatments, and even the cancer itself can contribute to cognitive challenges, complicating effective treatment.
Exploring the Complexity:
Dr. Kevin Liou from the Bendhaim Integrative Medicine Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center emphasizes that cancer-related cognitive impairment is a multifaceted issue with various contributing factors. This complexity means that chemo brain can manifest at any point during or after cancer treatment, presenting symptoms like difficulty multitasking, reading comprehension issues, word-finding … Read More »
Do You Need a Guardian for a Senior Parent?
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.
Take Two: Why You Should Consider Keeping Two Caregiving Journals
Keeping two separate caregiving journals for two distinct purposes is most effective.
Most of us are jotting down notes all the time: grocery lists, to-do reminders, appointments, meetings, events…the list goes on and on. If you’re a family caregiver, you’ve got even more reasons for writing, as you manage another person’s life in addition to your own. Journaling is a great way to keep everything together in one concise location. Yet we recommend taking it a step further by utilizing two caregiving journals for two distinct purposes that are equally important to your caregiving role.
The Organization Journal
This type of journal is a great tool for keeping everything linked to a senior family member’s health and wellbeing in one place. Include:
Any condition changes
Information about any troubling symptoms and what could be having an effect on them … Read More »
Who’s a Great Caregiver? Come on – it’s Juan!
Team Hired Hands is proud to honor Juan as our latest Caregiver of the Month! This is extra special, as we rarely award this to an individual who has been employed less than 6 months, but when we discussed this as a team, there was no question that Juan was most deserving!
Since Juan started in July, there is not a single client he has worked with that has not called to inform us how amazing he is! Juan came to us from Tam Adult school with minimal professional caregiving experience and still in the early stages of working very hard to learn English. This can be a challenge for some but not for Juan. Since Day One, he has jumped right in, and has been working hard and winning hearts over ever since.
As we were presenting the award to Juan, … Read More »
4 Ways to Better Advocate for Your Older Loved Ones
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.
What You Need to Know About Clutter and Dementia
Clutter and dementia may seem like an unhealthy combination, but research is showing some surprising benefits between the two.
Decluttering is a vital component to safety for individuals with dementia, particularly in ensuring walking paths are clear to prevent falls. However, there may be some surprising benefits to controlled clutter, according to a study by the University of East Anglia that explored the link between clutter and dementia.
We Think Andi is Dandy!
Please join us in congratulating Andi as our most recent Caregiver of the Month!
We recently had some fun with Andi, and surprised her on shift to present her with her award. Andi is super dependable, flexible, and always eager to help in any way she can… even if that means going across counties to help our Hired Hands Clients! She has grown into a wonderful caregiver and is always looking for opportunities to enhance her skill set. We are grateful for Andi’s hard work and strong communication skills. She always gives the office the best reports!
Hey Andi… what do you have to say?
“I love working for Hired Hands because it gives me a chance to do one of the things that gives me a sense of fulfillment, from helping people. It has also allowed me an opportunity to cross paths with … Read More »
Improving Health and Wellbeing for Seniors With Six Simple Steps
Improving health and wellbeing for seniors is easier with these tips.
Though New Year’s Day is still months away, who says resolutions should only be made at the start of the year? There is no time like the present to start a new habit or goal, especially when it comes to improving health and wellbeing for seniors.
We have six strategies you can implement today. Pick one to begin, or jump right into all of them to attain the greatest benefit:
Make an appointment for a physical. Rather than waiting for an injury or illness to call the doctor, a yearly check-up is a great way for seniors to stay on top of their health and potentially prevent issues before they occur.
Get physical. With the physician’s approval and recommendations, kick off a new exercise routine – together! Working out … Read More »
Walking Each Other Home: How to Ease End-of-Life Care
Learn how to ease end-of-life care with these tips.
Although the holiday season may be filled with joy, it can also spark feelings of loss and nostalgia for loved ones who are no longer with us. It’s also an incredibly poignant time for anyone who is caring for a loved one nearing the end of life. The ebbs and tides of life, as we know, do not always follow our schedules, routines, or desired outcomes. It becomes crucial to know how to ease end-of-life care to bring much-needed comfort during this trying time.
If you are in the midst of a season of providing end-of-life care, here are some thoughts to keep in mind that will help you best help the person in your care – as well as yourself.
Provide a calming environment. Ram Dass, author of … Read More »
