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What Family Members Should Know About Senior Home Care

If you’re new to taking care of a senior parent, you’re probably getting a lot of information thrown at you. It’s ok to feel a little overwhelmed. But you should know that you don’t have to go through any stage of caring for a senior parent alone. There is always help available for you, and for your senior parent. If your elderly parent is determined to continue living independently and you’re worried about their health and safety, you should know about senior home care. Senior home care is a service where an experienced care provider will visit your parent on a regular basis to help them with activities of daily living.

Your senior parent will have as much support as they need with things like housework, driving, running errands, getting to the gym, cooking meals, and much more. When your senior parent has regular visits from a home care provider you can feel better about them living independently.

Some of the other things that you should know about home care include:

There Are Various Types of Senior Home Care Services

There are various types of services available to meet the needs of seniors living at home. So, no matter what level of care your senior parent needs there is a home care service that can help. Some common types of senior home care are:

  • Personal Care Services: Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
  • Companion Care Services: Companionship, emotional support, and assistance with light housekeeping, meal preparation, and errands.
  • Respite Care: Temporary relief for family caregivers, allowing them to take breaks and attend to their own needs while their loved ones receive professional care at home.
  • Post-Hospital Care: Help for your senior parent when they transition home from a stay in the hospital. Medication reminders, ambulatory assistance, transportation to follow-up visits and more.

Specialized care is also available for seniors with conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Assessment and Care Planning Are The First Steps

It’s ok if you’re not sure what type of care your senior parent needs. When you get in touch with a home care agency they can assess your senior parent’s current condition and help you decide what type of care would be best. If your senior parent’s needs change in the future the type of care that they receive can change too.

Home Care Is A Collaboration

Effective communication and collaboration between family caregivers and home care professionals are essential for providing quality care to seniors. Care providers will communicate with you and work with you to fine tune the care that your senior parent is getting. Working together you and an elder care provider can make sure your senior parent is comfortable and safe at home.

Caregivers Know The Value Of Independence

Home care providers understand why seniors choose to remain at home and they’re committed to offering the compassionate care and support that seniors need to live well independently. If you can’t visit your senior parent every day, or if you live far away, senior home care makes it possible for seniors to live well at home.

Reference
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/aging-caregiving-older-adults

If you are considering senior home care in Las Vegas, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Eight Tips for Staying Close While Being a Long-distance Family Caregiver

Family caregivers who don’t live near their aging adults may find it a lot more difficult than they expect to stay on top of what’s happening with their seniors. Staying informed as a long-distance caregiver means putting a few important foundational elements in place. Senior home care is a huge part of that plan.

Talk Often

Communicating often and effectively with seniors is a big part of making long-distance caregiving work. Family caregivers can tell a lot about how their seniors are doing just by paying attention to tone of voice and other variables that might not seem obvious to others. Ask how they’re doing and keep them involved in big decisions.

Create a Solid Care Plan

Work with seniors to determine their needs and to put that into a strong care plan. Understanding what seniors need helps to find answers that meet those needs. Talk with healthcare professionals as well and determine if there are other solutions that seniors need in order to be as safe as possible.

Use Technology to Help

Video calls and other technology can be a huge help for long-distance caregivers. Fitness trackers, medication management systems, and lots of other different technologies are all there to keep family caregivers informed and to make life easier for seniors, too. Elder care providers can help seniors to set up these technologies and keep tabs on how well they’re working.

Try to Visit

It isn’t easy, but visiting in person is important. Visiting when they can allows long-distance caregivers to get an in-person idea how things are going. Try to avoid making the visit all about “business,” however. Spend quality time together and make time for fun, too.

Get Local Help

As much as aging adults might not want to have someone else helping out, senior home care providers really do offer the hands-on help that long-distance caregivers might wish they could be there to offer themselves. Caregivers can also help to keep everyone involved on the same page about what is happening. Long-distance caregivers can feel a lot of peace of mind when they know for sure what is really going on.

Stay Involved in What’s Going On

Keeping up with medical and health changes is also crucial. Seniors may not want to burden long-distance caregivers with changes when they’re not feeling well. But it’s important to know when those changes are happening in case other solutions might help better.

Prioritize Self-care as Much as Possible

Long-distance caregiving is not easy. And if time zones are far apart, that can make things even more difficult. Instead of burning the candle at both ends, long-distance caregivers need to make sure that they’re taking the best possible care of themselves. Focusing on putting a solid care plan and help into place can help to make this possible.

Stay Flexible

Lots of things change when it comes to caregiving and those changes can happen in the blink of an eye. Long-distance caregivers often need to be as flexible as possible so that they can weather those changes with grace.
Long-distance caregiving doesn’t have to be frustrating for everyone involved. Bringing in senior home care and the right supportive tools can help make the situation easier.

If you are considering senior home care in Las Vegas, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

How Can You Tell If Your Senior Is Losing Their Vision?

Senior Home Care in Las Vegas NV
Senior Home Care in Las Vegas NV

How do you know your senior might be losing their vision? There are several signs that may indicate a senior is losing their vision. The most common sign is a decline in the ability to see clearly, such as blurry or distorted vision. Seniors may also experience difficulty with depth perception or have trouble distinguishing colors. Senior home care is important when they begin to lose their vision as they can help them throughout their daily lives.

Sometimes it is hard to see the signs that a senior might be losing their ability to see. However, below are some additional signs to look for:

  • Difficulty reading: Seniors with vision loss may have difficulty reading small print, even with reading glasses.
  • Trouble seeing in low light: Seniors may have difficulty seeing in dimly lit areas or at night.
  • Sensitivity to light: Some seniors may become more sensitive to light as their vision deteriorates.
  • Blurred vision: Vision loss can cause objects to appear blurry or out of focus.
  • Difficulty with depth perception: Seniors may have difficulty judging distances or navigating stairs.
  • Decreased peripheral vision: Seniors with vision loss may have difficulty seeing objects or people to the side of them.
  • Difficulty recognizing faces: Vision loss can make it difficult for seniors to recognize faces, particularly in low light.
  • Changes in color perception: Seniors with vision loss may have difficulty distinguishing between certain colors.

If you notice any of these signs in your senior loved one, it is important to encourage them to schedule an eye exam with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Early detection and treatment can help prevent further vision loss.

How Can Senior Home Care Help Seniors Who Are Losing Their Vision?

Senior home care can provide several ways to help seniors with low vision. One of the most important ways is by offering companion care to assist with daily activities. Caregivers can help seniors navigate their homes safely, organize and label household items to make them easier to find, and assist with meal preparation and medication management.

In addition to companionship, senior home care can also offer transportation services. Many seniors with low vision may feel isolated and unable to leave their homes, which can lead to depression and a decline in overall health. Caregivers can provide transportation to medical appointments, social activities, and other outings, allowing seniors to remain engaged and active in their communities.

Home modifications can also be made to help seniors with low vision. This can include adding brighter lighting, installing grab bars and handrails, and removing clutter to reduce the risk of falls. Caregivers can also assist with setting up and using adaptive devices such as magnifiers, talking watches, and large-print books or magazines.

Finally, senior home care can offer emotional support and companionship to seniors with low vision. Vision loss can be a difficult and isolating experience and having a compassionate caregiver to talk to can make a big difference in a senior’s quality of life. Caregivers can also provide encouragement and support to help seniors adjust to their vision loss and find new ways to stay engaged and active.

Conclusion

Overall, senior in-home care can provide a range of services and support to help seniors with low vision live safely, comfortably, and independently in their own homes. With the help of compassionate caregivers and adaptive devices, seniors can maintain their dignity and quality of life while managing their vision loss.

If you are considering senior home care in Las Vegas, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips For Seniors

Holiday shopping is here. It can be a lot of fun for seniors to get out and shop. Some seniors really enjoy holiday shopping and seeing all the special holiday displays and lights. But, seniors should be especially careful when they are holiday shopping. Seniors are often targets for thieves. And they have a higher risk of falling when the stores are crowded and bustling. Seniors and their loved ones can use these tips to keep seniors safe while they are out doing their holiday shopping:

Get Support from Senior Home Care

Senior home care is a good idea for seniors for a lot of reasons, but during the holidays it can a great resource for seniors. With senior home care seniors don’t have to run their holiday errands alone. They will have help from a senior care provider who can do things like help them arrange for rides, go shopping with them to help them manage their money and carry their bags, and make sure that seniors don’t get jostled or knocked over in crowded stores. Many seniors are much more confident when they have senior home care.

Take Frequent Breaks

It can be emotionally and physically tiring for seniors to be shopping during the holidays. Seniors should take frequent shopping breaks to get some water and a snack and sit down and rest before doing more shopping. Pacing themselves will help seniors lower their risk of becoming tired or disoriented and falling while they are shopping. It’s a good idea for seniors to have someone with them while they shop who can encourage them to take breaks and get them water or a snack.

Go Early In The Morning

Seniors are usually at their best mentally and physically in the morning, and the shops will be less crowded in the morning too. That’s why seniors should plan to start their holiday shopping early, when the mall opens, so that they can shop when the mall is the least busy. Parking will easier for seniors that drive or who are having someone drive them to the mall. And there will be a much lower risk of seniors getting bumped or knocked over by crowds of shoppers early in the day.

Minimize Stops

Shopping at stores that offer gifts for different ages and interests is a great way to save time and steps. Malls and department stores are great places to find gifts for all ages and keep your senior parent from walking too much. Senior home care can help your senior navigate through a large department store and check off their list as they go.

Source
https://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/guide/fall-prevention-strategies

If you are considering senior home care in Las Vegas, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Seniors and Knee Pain

Senior Home Care in Las Vegas NV
Senior Home Care in Las Vegas NV

Joint pain is often something that seniors find themselves dealing with as they age. But just because it’s common, that doesn’t mean that your elderly family member has to ignore or just put up with that pain. Knee pain in particular can be especially painful and difficult to manage. It also can completely change your senior’s ability to be as mobile as she needs and wants to be. Here are some things you both need to know.

Factors that Contribute to Knee Pain

So many different factors can contribute to knee pain for your elderly family member. Experiencing an injury, being overweight, overusing the knee in the past, and even arthritis can all contribute to knee pain and can keep your senior from being able to walk without pain. There may be other contributing factors, too.

Getting Knee Pain Evaluated

If your elderly family member is dealing with knee pain, even if she considers it to be minor, she should talk with her doctor about it right away. This allows her doctor to rule out possible injuries or problems that need to be addressed. Once your elderly family member knows what is causing her knee pain, she is in a better position to make whatever changes are necessary in order to heal.

Making Lifestyle Changes

Depending on the cause, lifestyle changes may be able to help your senior to manage knee pain. Exercise that is within the recommendations of her doctor can help to strengthen the muscles and joints in the knee. This can be helpful if the knee is too weak or if your elderly family member is dealing with arthritis. Your senior may also lose excess weight, which can relieve strain on her knee.

Treating Knee Pain

Many people find that eventually they need knee surgery, even a knee replacement, in order to fully recover from knee pain. Your senior’s doctor may have other recommendations for treatment options before surgery. Those recommendations could include steroid shots, physical therapy, or topical medications. Using assistive devices, like a cane, when knee pain is severe can help. It also may help for your elderly family member to wear a knee brace to help stabilize the knee.

Keeping Your Senior Safe and Mobile

What’s most important for your senior as she deals with knee pain is that she is able to remain both safe and mobile. Senior home care can help with all of this. Caregivers can assess your senior’s home for possible safety hazards, including tripping hazards. They can also help your elderly family member to be more mobile, by supporting her as she walks and reminding her to use any assistive devices that she needs. Senior home care can also be there in other ways, offering companionship, helping with healthy meals, and anything else that your senior finds challenging.

Any type of pain is an indication that your senior needs to pay attention to what is happening with her body. In the case of knee pain, her activities may be limited somewhat, but there are ways to work around that issue.

If you are considering senior home care in Las Vegas, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Honor Your Dad on Father’s Day With These Gifts

Senior Home Care in Las Vegas NV
Senior Home Care in Las Vegas NV

Father’s Day falls on June 19th this year. What are you planning to do or give him? Here are some of the best gifts for the father who has everything. You could even gift him with the many benefits of senior home care.

A Gaming System

Your dad loves to fish, but he can’t walk up and down streams, shores, or through the woods by himself. You’re not around enough to take him fishing. Fulfill his passion for fishing when you’re not round by investing in a gaming system.

There are fishing games with controllers that vibrate and jerk around when the virtual fish is on the line. The Nintendo Switch has a fishing pole controller. It’s not exactly the same as fishing, but it’s a good way for him to engage in his favorite activity when no one is available to take him fishing.

Your dad could also play golf on his gaming system. If he’s into golf, he can play it from the comfort of his living room when you’re not around.

A Doorbell Camera

How about a doorbell camera? If someone is at the door, your dad and you can view who it is and talk to them without opening the door. It adds a layer of protection against scammers and door-to-door sales.

A Chromebook or Laptop

How about a small laptop that doesn’t need virus protection updates? A Chromebook protects against viruses in a different way, so your dad doesn’t have to run antivirus all the time. If he wants a laptop for communicating with his family via chat or video chat, this is a good option.

If he’s able to update and run security suite software, any laptop will work. It comes down to how technologically minded he is.

A Smart Speaker

Does your dad have a smart speaker? It is a handy device for older adults as it can read the news and weather out loud to him. It can help him turn on and off lights if you pair it with the right light bulbs. It can also play music, find his favorite show or movie, and play games.

A Pet

If your dad is lacking companionship and has talked about getting a pet, consider taking him to an animal rescue this Father’s Day. A cat can be lower maintenance than a dog, though it will still require some care. If he’s not up for a lot of grooming and maintenance of his pet, a fish tank may be a better option.

Senior Home Care Services

When it’s not a holiday or special event, is your dad alone? Should he be? This year, pay for a few weeks of home care services for him to try out.

He can experience what it’s like to have someone helping with meals, housekeeping, and transportation. He may find he loves it and wants to make it a permanent part of his life.

Senior home care helps your dad around the home without taking away his independence. Call a specialist in home care to learn more about the services that are available.

Source
https://www.fatherly.com/gear/best-gifts-for-dads

If you are considering senior home care in Las Vegas, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Easy Ways To Improve Your Senior’s Nutrition

Senior Home Care in Las Vegas NV
Senior Home Care in Las Vegas NV

November is Good Nutrition Month and now is a great time to pay more attention to your senior loved one’s nutrition. Seniors often struggle to eat enough food and to eat nutritious foods. Sometimes seniors skip adding fresh vegetables to meals because they have a hard time shopping. Other times they may find it difficult to prepare fresh vegetables which need to be chopped or cut and cooked. And often seniors don’t get enough protein because they don’t want to make a large meal just for themselves. If your senior loved one isn’t getting the right nutrients here are some easy ways you can get your senior parent to eat better:

Meal Preparation

The easiest way to encourage your senior loved one to eat more nutritious foods is to prepare them ahead of time for your senior loved one. Either you or a senior home care provider can take fresh vegetables and wash, cut, chop, peel, and prepare them. Then portion them into single servings and put those containers into the fridge clearly labeled. Do the same for proteins by preparing chicken breasts, steaks, burgers, or any other type of protein your loved one enjoys. Cook them, portion them into individual servings, label them, then put them in the fridge. Your senior loved one can choose a protein and whatever they vegetables they want for each meal and easily heat them up in the microwave.

Sharing Meals

Sharing meals with your senior loved one is another way you can encourage them to eat better quality foods. Or have a senior home care provider share meals with them during the week if you’re busy at work and can’t make it to your senior parent’s house for a meal. Being able to share a meal with someone else is often enough to get seniors to make better choices about what they are eating.

Supplements and Drinks

Nutritional supplements and drinks don’t replace the vitamins and minerals that seniors can get from fresh vegetables and fruit. They also don’t replace animal protein like chicken breasts. But supplements and protein drinks can be an excellent way to supplement a senior’s diet to make sure that they are getting the extra nutrients they need and getting them in the right amount. Before you start giving your senior loved one any supplements or nutritional drinks you should ask their doctor if there are any foods that your senior should stay away from because of the medication that they are on.

Subscription Boxes and Food Delivery

If the reason why your senior loved one isn’t getting the right nutrition is that they don’t like to shop or find it difficult you can sign them up for a food delivery service or a CSA farm share box that will deliver a box of fresh locally grown vegetables and fruits directly to your senior loved one’s door on a regular schedule. That way your senior parent can enjoy fresh food without the hassles of shopping every few days to get it.

If you are considering senior home care in Las Vegas, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.