Senior Independence

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Learn tips to improve balance for seniors

mproving balance is one of the best ways to improve senior health, particularly when it comes to preventing falls. Once an older adult has experienced a fall, the initial impulse may be to decrease physical activity to lower the possibility of falling again, but it’s essential for older adults to optimize their overall muscle strength and balance and stay as active as possible.

These balance exercises, recommended by the National Institute on Aging, are a great place to start (after first receiving approval from the senior’s primary care physician):

One Foot Stand: Grasping a sturdy chair for balance, lift one leg just a bit and hold the position for 10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10-15 times and then switch legs.

Heel to Toe Walk: Position the … Read More »

Wikipedia defines Elder abuse (also called “elder mistreatment“, “senior abuse“, “abuse in later life“, “abuse of older adults“) as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.”  Abuse can be physical, psychological/emotional, financial, or even sexual, and often comes in the form of neglect, abandonment, and direct abuse.

Since 1994, Hired Hands Homecare has proudly provided services that support Bay Area seniors in staying safe and well in their own homes.  Our professional Caregivers and Management Team spend significant time with our senior clients, and keep trained eyes out for any signs of undue influence and elder abuse.  Trust and Security are foundational to our company culture.

Hired Hands is proud to celebrate this day by participating in the North Bay … Read More »

Hired Hands Homecare shares details on how to keep seniors safe from falls.

You may have at one time been by a senior loved one’s side at the hospital or doctor’s office and noticed the medical worker attaching a colorful “FALL RISK” band to his or her wrist. Notifying those providing care to this possibility allows additional measures to keep seniors safe during medical treatments. However, did you realize that ongoing, everyday life can pose a fall risk danger to those diagnosed with the following conditions?

Arthritis

Osteoporosis, a bone density disorder that can also increase a person’s chances of fracturing a hip

Vertigo

Cerebrovascular insufficiency

Neurologic disability (stroke)

Postural hypotension (sudden decrease in blood pressure)

Diabetes

Read More »

“Here, I can help you with that.”

“Don’t overdo it now!”

“Why don’t you sit here and rest? I’ll handle that.”

How often have we made comments such as these to older adults—with the very best of intentions, of course? We want to do what we can to help our older loved ones, to help them stay safe and to take care of them in the same way they took care of us when we were growing up. However, there’s a concealed risk in trying to do too much for older individuals and depriving them of the ability to do as much as possible for themselves – the threat of harming their self-esteem and sense of purpose in life and making them feel robbed of their senior independence.

Take, for example, an elderly gentleman who spent his entire life … Read More »

Search online for “activities for seniors” and you’re likely to find numerous crafts, games, memory stimulation puzzles, and of course, the requisite bingo. However, what you won’t discover—unless you dig a little deeper with your searches—are the meaningful, beneficial activities that give significance to our lives. And yet, if you ask older individuals what they most want to do, the majority of them won’t mention bingo, crafts and games. What they want more than anything is to feel useful.

The University of Minnesota reveals details on how the most vulnerable times in our lives are a person’s first year of life, and our first year after retiring. The loss of the sense of purpose found in a fulfilling profession can cause significant health issues – and even an earlier fatality rate, if that awareness of purpose is not maintained … Read More »

In our last blog post, we outlined the advantages of utilizing a professional home care agency to provide the highest quality and safest level of California home care. But we regularly receive inquiries on exactly what kinds of home care services in Pleasanton and the surrounding area are available to help older adults remain safe and thriving at home. If you’ve determined it’s time to search for in-home help for a senior family member, there are a variety of customized in home care services available. These options can help you figure out the specific type of help your loved one really needs:

Housekeeping: Household tasks can become challenging for older adults to manage. Housekeeping services performed on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis, covering tasks like vacuuming, doing dishes, laundry, changing beds, dusting, preparing meals, and … Read More »

When an older adult needs in home care services, there are a number of available options, and deciding where to turn can be intimidating. For instance, should you work with a professional home care agency, an independently hired caregiver, or utilize a caregiving registry? And how can you identify which home care solution is best for your loved one’s unique needs? There are benefits and drawbacks with most choices, but when it comes to senior care at home, the solution is clear: hiring a professional agency for the in-home senior living Santa Rosa CA families need, like Hired Hands Homecare, is the ideal choice for the highest quality care for numerous reasons:

You don’t need to perform a search for a safe, trained caregiver. A reputable home care agency not only checks references and performs in-depth background and driving record … Read More »

It’s a fact…diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. Startlingly, upwards of 40 percent of individuals with diabetes will also ultimately develop chronic kidney disease.

How are diabetes and kidney disease related?

The purpose of our kidneys is to balance chemicals in the body, control blood pressure and keep our bones healthy, as well as remove waste and extra fluid from the blood. The kidneys’ filters are comprised of tiny blood vessels (called glomeruli), which can be damaged by high blood sugar levels, which in turn can lead to diabetic kidney disease. After the kidneys are damaged in this way, they can’t be repaired, and if not treated early, can progress further to kidney failure.

Is it possible to tell if the kidneys are being damaged?

Unfortunately, signs of kidney damage are not noticeable until after kidney … Read More »

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 »