Using Resources to Help Choose Home Care Home health care agencies can provide care to a loved one right in his or her own home. They offer a wide range of services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and skilled nursing care. Receiving care in the home still offers the same effective care one would receive in a hospital or nursing facility, while typically being more cost-effective and convenient. Finding which home health agency to use for a loved one can be a daunting task. However, there are resources out there that can help ease the stress of finding the best home health care for a loved one. Read more
Choosing an Assisted Living Facility Do you need help with the activities of daily living such as bathing, cooking meals and cleaning the house, but are looking to remain independent as possible? If so, assisted living may be right for you. Assisted living facilities can provide round the clock care and support. A good facility will put together a plan that marries the best of independent living with supportive personal care services. Read more
5 Tips to Help our Loved Ones with Using Telephones For many of our loved ones, hearing and vision problems develop over time and create problems when they want to use the telephone. When a loved one has challenges that cause them to avoid using the phone, tension can ensue. We can help our loved ones retain their independence with these tips for addressing the many different challenges that may cause a loved one to stop using the phone. Read more
Taking a Teamwork Approach to Caregiving As we age, most of us would prefer to stay within our own homes, but this becomes difficult as age and infirmities slow us down. Adding to this, grown children or other relatives may not live nearby. If we are caring for an older loved one who is living at home, they may also struggle to maintain their independence if they do not have all the support they need to manage their day-to-day life. The best way we can help a loved one in this situation is to plan ahead and assemble a team. Read more
4 Tips to Help a Loved One Manage Stairs If a loved one has mobility issues, a flight of stairs can sometimes seem like an insurmountable obstacle. At the same time, being able to move freely and safely throughout the home is imperative for a loved one's independence. In addition, the social and emotional benefits of leaving the home from time to time should not be neglected just because a few stairs are in the way. Read more
5 Tips to Help a Loved One Manage Eating Difficulties As a loved one ages, they may experience changes that impact their appetite; their ability to distinguish taste, smell, temperature and texture of food; and, if they have dementia, they may have difficulty feeding themselves. We can help our loved ones maintain proper nutrition and avoid unwanted weight loss and other negative outcomes. Read more
6 Tips to Help a Loved One with Dressing If a loved one we are helping is having trouble manipulating buttons or zippers, or is finding it difficult to maintain their balance when dressing, it may be time to for us to assist them with getting dressed. Here are some tips we can use to help us aid our loved ones with dressing, while also helping them maintain a sense of independence. Read more
6 Tips to Help a Loved One Cook Safely As we age, the possibility of accidents happening in the kitchen goes up dramatically. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, people over the age of 65 have a 2.5 times greater risk of dying in a kitchen fire than the general population. Our older loved ones are much more prone to falling when trying to reach something on the top shelf, and are more susceptible to food-borne illnesses that can be fatal from improperly stored food. If we help our loved ones cook, there are many steps we can take to assure their safety in the kitchen. Read more
4 Tips to Help Loved Ones Use Computers and Smartphones For much of the world, computers and smartphones are a necessity in everyday life. But for our older loved ones, these devices can provoke anxiety, hostility and resistance. To some older adults, learning how to use a computer or smartphone can seem like a very daunting task, but there are benefits to embracing technology and using devices. Read more
Why Caregivers and their Loved Ones Deserve Respite It is likely that at some point in our lives, most of us will be involved in providing care for an older loved one. A commonly requested type of caregiver assistance among family caregivers is respite, accounting for 15% of all assistance requests according to a study by the Family Caregiver Alliance. A variety of situations may give rise to requests for this type of assistance. For example, if we have a career of our own, the addition of caregiving responsibilities may leave us with very little time to manage our personal needs and day-to-day tasks. Or we may be a caregiver in the “sandwich generation” and care for both children and adult loved ones, which may increase our need for respite, due to the amount of our caregiving responsibilities. Read more
