Pleasanton Senior Care

Older adults tend to resist the idea of caregiver services for one surprising reason.

As the top San Rafael home care providers for the surrounding area, we see firsthand everyday the joy, companionship, and enhanced quality of life older adults receive through our caregiver services. Yet we also know that many seniors initially reject the idea of in-home care help.

To help overcome a senior’s objections to the care needed, it’s important to first understand why he or she is opposed to help at home. And while of course each person will have unique reasoning to support declining help, some of the more common feelings include:

Fear of lost freedom and independence
A desire to remain in control, and not wanting someone to come in and “take over”
Not wanting a “stranger” in the home
Feelings of shame or embarrassment in the … Read More »

Find tips for seniors who resist home care services.

Getting used to the reality that a senior you love needs help at home can be challenging. Even more difficult is talking about home care services with the senior and encouraging him or her to acknowledge that assistance is needed. If you have viewed changes in your loved one and you sense the need to initiate speaking about home care as a possibility to improve safety and independence in the home, try some of these conversation starters from the home care team at Hired Hands Homecare to raise the subject in a subtle, non-confrontational way.

If heightened frailty is growing to be a concern:

“I love you, Dad, and now that you’re living by yourself, I’m concerned about your safety. I know someone who can help us to make … Read More »

Discover the facts behind these four common urinary incontinence myths.

Urinary incontinence can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing topic of conversation for those who are impacted by it. The stigma behind incontinence often contributes to either a lack of factual information, or a belief in some common misunderstandings and myths. The following are some incontinence untruths, and the facts to go with them:

Myth: Urinary incontinence is a normal part of aging.
Truth: Although growing older does increase our risk for incontinence, many older adults are able to maintain normal bladder functioning, so it should certainly never be regarded as an inevitable part of the aging process.

Myth: There’s no treatment for urinary incontinence in seniors.
Truth: In many cases, this is simply not true. There are ways that urinary incontinence can be treated with success.

Myth: Drinking as little water as possible will … Read More »

Wow, what an amazing honor!  For the SECOND time, the fine folks of Pleasanton, Livermore & the Tri-Valley have bestowed Hired Hands Homecare as the community’s BEST Home Healthcare in the Pleasanton Weekly!  As they so eloquently put it…  “Readers’ Choice winners yet again, Hired Hands Homecare provides senior care assistance to help locals maintain their independence as they age — and the clear communication and genuine care provided by Hired Hands obviously resonates with clients.”  We could not agree more!

This wonderful award goes to our entire team of phenomenal Caregivers!  It is their tireless dedication, compassion, and professionalism that truly set us apart, and allow us to WOW the seniors and families that we serve!  Our Caregivers truly Exceed Expectations, providing senior care Pleasanton families deserve!

Erin, Courtney, and the entire Hired Hands Homecare Team Pleasanton will wear this badge … Read More »

Are you taking heart disease medication? You’ll want to read these tips from the Marin County, CA home care experts.

If you have heart disease, you know it’s important to take your heart disease medications properly. But what exactly does that mean? Here are some tips from Hired Hands Homecare, a professional Marin County, CA home care agency, that will help you get the most from your medications:

Know what medications you’re taking. Learn their generic and brand names and make sure you understand what each one does. Read the patient leaflet so you’re aware of possible side effects.
Take your medications at the same time every day. When you partner with Hired Hands Homecare, your home care companion can remind you when it’s time to take your doses. Don’t stop or change any medication without speaking to your doctor first.
Make … Read More »

Family caregiving can have an effect on your business growth. Find help here.

The number of families providing care for a senior loved one is on the rise, with many overly-stressed full-time employees having to leave work in order to provide care for a loved one. Is family caregiving impacting your business? The Walnut Creek senior home care team at Hired Hands Homecare suggests asking yourself the following questions:

Do you have employees who are arriving to work late or leaving early to tend to family caregiving issues?
Are your employees taking unpaid leaves of absence or using personal or sick days to provide care for family members?
Have any of your employees refused new assignments, relocation opportunities, or work-related travel because of family caregiving issues?
Has an employee left your business to provide full-time care for a family member?

If you … Read More »

Family caregivers can find the support they need with respite care services.

In spite of spending plenty of time with a senior loved one, family caregivers can often feel very isolated and alone. These feelings, although normal, can result in depression and other health problems if not kept in check. When family and friends are not available to help provide respite care services, there are several community service options that can help family caregivers care for their loved ones.

Senior Centers and Other Senior Organizations: Local senior centers often have programs or can offer other resources to family caregivers in need of respite.

Veterans’ Programs: Family caregivers who are caring for a veteran can explore whether the person is qualified to receive financial coverage for home care or adult day care.

Adult Day Care: For seniors who are well enough, … Read More »

Respite care helps both seniors and their family members enjoy a better quality of life.

Meeting the ongoing care needs of an elderly or disabled loved one is a physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding job, requiring time for the family caregiver to rest and relax on occasion. Respite care allows for the relief needed from the daily tasks of caregiving, allowing the family caregiver to also care for himself or herself.

Here are the basic principles of respite care:

Relief from ongoing care responsibilities allows seniors to still receive the attention they deserve.
Respite care provides family caregivers with care that is planned, temporary, intermittent and substitute.
Time required for respite can vary, from just a few hours one day to ongoing, scheduled, routine relief.

How to help a family caregiver:

Offer to take turns in providing care. Even if you can … Read More »

Learn ways to ease stress when providing Alzheimer’s care for a loved one.

Some of the busiest people working today are providing Alzheimer’s care for a senior loved one, but that’s not all. Although Alzheimer’s caregivers have their hands full with that role alone, many also work long hours at full-time jobs, shuttle the kids to school and other activities, run errands and take care of the home, and prepare dinner for the family on top of their caregiving duties. When do they have time to just relax? When providing Alzheimer’s care, it can often feel like your day never ends, and stress and poor sleep can wear down your body as well as your mind. Caregiver burnout is a real and serious condition that can result in, among other things, physical health problems, depression, feelings of being isolated, … Read More »

Hired Hands Homecare offers tips to prevent senior falls.

Falling is never fun, but for an older adult, a fall can result in devastating effects, like a fractured hip, which can escalate to a full range of additional health problems. A full 25% of seniors who fracture a hip end up dying within six months of the injury; a shocking, yet preventable statistic.

Taking time to make some simple modifications to the home can help create a safer environment for your senior loved ones and help prevent dangerous senior falls. Below are some easy home modification ideas from the home care Marin CA services team at Hired Hands Homecare that can be implemented to help lower the risk of falls for the elderly.

Lighting:

Replace light bulbs routinely to ensure there is sufficient illumination in … Read More »