Homecare

For seniors who wish to remain in the comfort of home throughout aging – and, who wouldn’t? – in-home care services provide a lifeline, offering assistance with daily activities that can become difficult in later years and supplying a means of safety, security and enhanced independence. But what happens when an older adult is struggling with a disease, such as chronic kidney disease?

In-home senior care is not only possible for those with kidney disease, but it’s actually preferred over a move to a nursing home or assisted living facility. Consider some of the numerous ways that a professional in-home caregiver, such as Hired Hands Homecare provides, can help those who are at risk for or diagnosed with kidney disease:

Providing education on management of the disease. Caregivers work hand in hand with the senior’s doctor … Read More »

You are what you eat, as the saying goes, and for individuals with kidney disease, it’s even more essential that a proper nutritional plan be adhered to in order to reduce symptoms, such as nausea, swelling, pain and others, and to maybe even slow the progression of the disease. Hired Hands Homecare recommends the following dietary considerations (after approval by one’s healthcare provider) and notes which foods to avoid with kidney disease:

Salt

High amounts of sodium in the diet can result in fluid retention, elevated blood pressure, and cause the heart to work harder. Sodium intake should be restricted to 2 grams per day. Refrain from consuming foods that contain significant levels of salt such as:

Canned food

Smoked or processed meats

Pretzels, crackers and chips

Nuts

Read More »

Itching. Hiccups. Loss of appetite. Sleep problems. These are just a handful of the numerous seemingly innocuous warning signs that may possibly suggest kidney disease. And with around 20 million people in America fighting kidney pain, and many more not officially diagnosed, it’s crucial to bring any concerning symptoms to the attention of the physician.

If kidney disease is the cause, these guidelines from the National Kidney Center can help you or your loved one adjust and thrive:

Make sure you are knowledgeable. Knowledge is power, and trying to learn as much as you possibly can about the disease will be helpful towards properly managing it.

Stay in control. It’s inherently up to the person with kidney disease, or that individual’s primary caregiver, to be aware of symptoms, monitor test results and treatments, and take responsibility for … Read More »

When our parents were younger, telephones were wired to walls, mail was delivered by postmen, and if grown children lived at a distance from their parents, checking in on them meant asking a neighbor to stop by to see how they were making out. If seniors were housebound as a result of illness or frailty, they could very easily start feeling isolated and cut off from the rest of the world. Social circles grew smaller, and distant family members often felt at a loss because they weren’t able to be there to help. But the world has changed dramatically over the past few decades and technology has changed how we communicate and function with our everyday tasks. Technology has also allowed for a revolution in home care for older adults and those who ordinarily might not have been able … Read More »

Hired Hands Homecare is proud to partner with the Tamalpais Adult School to offer the next FREE 10 session Home Care Aide course.

Learn the basics of working as a Home Care Aide, building a solid foundation for a rewarding career!  Hear from Guest experts from the senior care industry.  Graduates attend a super Job Fair with many potential employers.

This 10 session course runs Feb 28 – May 9, and meets Wednesdays from 9:30-12:30 in Larkspur.

Register early – space is limited!  For more information, please call the Tamalpais Adult School at 415-945-1031.  More information on this flyer.

There truly is no place like home, and the majority of adults age 65 and over, 90% per a study from AARP, desire to age in place in their own homes as they age. But how does that have an impact on senior independence?

Although the desire to remain living at home as opposed to moving to a nursing home is quite common, it can pose many difficulties for seniors who are in need of assistance with daily tasks such as driving, fixing meals, showering, walking, etc. The encouraging news is that senior home care in Walnut Creek, like those offered by Hired Hands Homecare, are structured to support senior independence and enhance wellbeing and confidence both inside and outside the home.

At Hired Hands Homecare, we offer expert senior care services that support seniors throughout the … Read More »

From our humble beginnings in Mill Valley, to our current four offices, working with hundreds of amazing people every week,

Over the last 24 years Hired Hands Homecare has touched the lives of many…

Our utterly amazing and dedicated Caregivers,

Our precious Clients and their Families,

Our outstanding Internal Management Team / Family,

& Our all of our trusted Community Partners.

It is our utmost honor & privilege!  THANK YOU for an amazing journey… and here’s to another 24 more!

With Love,
Lynn, Erin & Mark Winter 

Hand it to the health care industry to come up with yet another couple of acronyms to add to their extensive list – ADLs and IADLs. These are prevalent terms in the healthcare field used to describe the routine self-care activities that an individual engages in on a regular basis to stay independent and healthy. It is also common for these acronyms to appear in conversations if you are looking for in-home care options for an older person, or if you are researching the cost of long-term senior care for yourself or someone you know.

The most wonderful thing about human beings is that every one of them is altogether unique, and that doesn’t change simply because of age. As we get older, we stay the unique and intricate individuals that we have been our whole lives. Assuming that all seniors will act the same and require the same things is a cookie cutter approach that just will not work for seniors or those who take care of them. Providing care to older individuals necessitates an innovative and careful approach that permits the caregiver to determine just who an older adult is and what his or her specific needs are to determine the best plan of care to keep the individual healthy and well at home.

“I never want to live in a nursing home.”

If you’re the child of an elderly parent, you’ve probably listened to your loved one speak those words or a similar sentiment signifying your parent’s wish to continue to age at home instead of moving to a long-term care facility. Truthfully, the majority of seniors want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible – for a variety of reasons. Home is the place they’ve lovingly created, so it’s where they feel the most comfortable. Living at home also brings meaning and purpose to one’s life. Something as simple as looking at one’s belongings, reading the mail, or relaxing on the porch are more meaningful in one’s own home than in a long-term care facility because it is the home that creates the framework of one’s life. … Read More »