Thursday, August 25, 2016

IN THE SPOTLIGHT ~ Copper Springs Retirement Resort

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the
SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options Guide


Senior Living as Comfortable as it is Luxurious.

Walking into Resort Lifestyle Communities® feels like stepping onto a 5-star cruise ship.  Our all-inclusive resort-style senior living communities are the ideal senior living option for adults 55 and over who seek an elegant, comfortable, and safe place to call home.  Designed to complement your lifestyle, our luxurious accommodations, unmatched amenities, flexible dining options, and leisure activities set the tone for the retirement of your dreams.
Every RLC community is staffed with courteous professionals including live-in managers, a 24/7 concierge, housekeepers, gourmet chefs, valet parking attendants, and full-time lifestyle directors.  You’ll never hesitate to ask for anything, knowing that the person taking your request is a familiar face and has your best interests at heart.
RLC is senior living at its best. Enjoy all the comforts and conveniences of modern day living without the hassle of upkeep. Let RLC take care of your needs, so you can focus on what’s important to you. Discover the RLC difference today!


Visit us online today!
 www.CopperSpringsRetirement.com 

Monday, July 11, 2016

Home Care for Diabetic Seniors



Home Care For Your Diabetic Senior



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According to the American Diabetes Association, over 25 percent of seniors suffer with diabetes. Simply stated, diabetes is a disease in which the body's ability to produce or respond to insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated glucose (sugar) in the blood and urine.

Caring for a senior loved one with diabetes is a full-time job. Weight stability is one major issue. Being excessively overweight or underweight can be dangerous for a diabetic patient. Diet and exercise play a critical role in maintaining proper weight.

Diets for a diabetic patient needn't be complicated. It simply must be monitored.
Best food choices for diabetics include whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, low-fat proteins, and low-fat dairy. Boil, steam, and broil foods. Steer clear of added sugar, fried foods, excess fats (like bacon), and sweets. Eliminate soda, flavored coffee, sweet tea, and energy drinks.

Blood sugar monitoring is crucial. Depending on the 'stage' of diabetes, this must be done at least once, if not several times per day. Perhaps your patient has been prescribed oral antidiabetic medication or they may have to self-inject the medication. Whichever the case, elderly patients must be monitored in this process. Diabetic medications can cause side effects including headache, nausea, dizziness, and injection site reactions.

Forgetting to take their medication or not remembering if they did or didn't is another problem. Now, you are faced with chancing double dosing or not dosing. Being responsible for a diabetic senior isn't complicated, but it is time-consuming. If you are struggling with the care of your loved one, home care could be your answer. For more information about diabetic senior home care, contact us. 

To learn more about Long Term Care download our free Caregiver Toolkit.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Home Helpers Offers Revealing Statistics Illustrating the Growing Benefits of Home Care




These Revealing Statistics Illustrate the Growing Benefits of Home Care

As our population continues to rapidly age, home care will continue to benefit seniors, their families, the overall health system and the economy, according to a recent report.





This week, the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) released
Caring for America’s Seniors: The Value of Home Care. It’s packed with data and statistics about our aging society, and how home care provides the tools families need to keep their loved ones safe and at home.
SOME KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:
  • 40% of adults age 65+ require daily assistance, and 70% will at some point
  • 25% fewer doctor visits occur when home care is in place
  • $25 billion a year in hospital costs is saved thanks to home care
  • $13.4 billion a year in annual employer health care costs is saved by using home care services
The data reinforces what most of us see up close: In-home care is an important element in any outcome-focused plans for responding to an aging population.
From the national perspective, these data points are compelling. But at the family level, what does it mean for individuals who are struggling with the challenges of caring for an older loved one?
In-Home Care’s Benefits to Families
When we’re faced with a new or a growing need for care, the most important priority is to make sure your elderly family member is safe, healthy and loved.
That’s easier to do in the place the individual feels most comfortable. For about nine in ten seniors, that’s at home. And in-home care is an important tool for individuals who want to live safely in their home as long as possible.
The report confirms that more Americans are requiring care than ever before. As time goes on, most of us will face choices in providing care to aging parents and other relatives.
As caregiving professionals, we constantly renew our commitment to working with families to find the solution and the combination of services that meet their unique needs. Our offices offer resources for resolving conflicts that arise from the Caregiving Dilemma, so families can choose what’s best for them.
One resource we offer at Home Helpers is a list of conversation techniques based on the principles of inclusion and choice that is meant to help you discuss care options with an older family member. With a little thought and preparation, any family can start an open and honest dialogue that can lead to a plan for the future that everybody agrees to and understands.

Click here to access your free “How to Start the Conversation” guide.

Be sure to follow Home Helpers on Facebook and Pinterest for more helpful tips. You can also find the HCAOA on Facebook here.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT ~ Home Helpers & Direct Link Medical Alert Systems




Find In-Home Care That’s Right for You!

Why Home Helpers for In-Home Care?



Home Helpers In-Home Care Services is more than an in-home health care agency: we’re your extended family when family can’t be there. We’re a locally owned, trusted provider of quality, compassionate in-home care, and we customize our home care solutions to your unique situation for an affordable solution that keeps your loved one where they’re happiest: at home.

The Home Helpers Difference Includes:

  • Free in-home consultation and assessment
  • Comprehensive in-home care
  • Affordable customized solutions
  • Locally owned and operated

Home Care Services for Seniors

Staying active and socially engaged is critical for seniors’ health and well-being. And as much as we love spending time with our loved ones, most of us can’t be there as much as we’d like to provide that needed companionship.
Home Helpers offers in-home care services that can extend well beyond the day-to-day medical and essential housekeeping tasks: we offer in-home care to help fill in the gaps for a richer, more fulfilling life for your loved one, including:

  • Talking, listening, and sharing experiences
  • Playing games and cards
  • Reading assistance
  • Doing puzzles
  • Escorting to and from check-ups, errands, social events, etc.
  • Sorting and organizing mail
  • Connecting with friends and family through social media (Skype, Facebook, etc.)

Personal Care In-Home Care Services


Sometimes our loved ones need help with basic activities of daily living, including hygiene and nutritional needs to stay in their homes living enriched, engaged, and independent lives.
Personal in-home care by a Home Helpers professional provides that needed support, so your aging or disabled family member can be where they’re happiest: at home. We can help with a range of needs, including:
  • Feeding
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Mobility
    • Getting in and out of bed
    • Sitting and standing
    • Navigating stairs
  • Using the bathroom

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Services Home Health Care

The challenges of caring for a loved one who’s suffering from dementia can be overwhelming. Our professional caregivers can ease the burden with customized home health care services that ensure a higher quality of life for you, your loved one, and your entire family.
To provide the most effective method of home care services for your family’s unique situation, Home Helpers dementia caregivers receive specialized training and are highly experienced in dementia care; in fact, many are certified in Alzheimer’s care through our partnership with the National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care (NCBAC).
Want to learn more?

Respite Care In-Home Care Services

Caring for an elderly or disabled family member can be tremendously rewarding, but no matter how much you love and care for them, it’s a very stressful role as well. Caregivers are at increased risk of depression and illness due to the tremendous stress, and no one can do it alone.
Respite care provides the break you need to refresh and recharge – it’s a planned break from caregiving routines that still allows your loved one to be cared for at home, where they truly belong.
Your respite caregiver will learn your family routine and caregiving needs, and make everyone’s life easier with respite care assistance that makes the most sense for you and your family.

About Our Caregivers

  • Extensive background checks
  • Experienced, well-trained, and insured
  • Caring and compassionate
  • Chosen specifically for your loved one

The Home Care Association of America enhances the strength and professionalism of private duty home care providers through education and best practices. As a leader in the industry, The Home Care Association of America cares for people at home through advocacy and education. As a member of The Home Care Association of America, we believe that people should be able to age safely in place at home to the extent possible according to their desires and permitted by their resources.

Home Helpers & Direct Link Scottsdale is now a Business Member in Good Standing with AZNHA. The Association was created to enhance the image and confidence of in-home care provider businesses in the eyes of consumers. AZNHA accomplished this by establishing a Code of Business Ethics and Minimum Standards of Delivery of Services for all its members to adhere to. AZNHA members agree to adhere to our Code of Business Ethics.

What Our Clients Say

“Home Helpers approached our situation with personal care. They evaluated Mom, and together we put in place a plan with the flexibility we needed to keep our lives in balance. We also want to say that the people who they employ invest from a personal human care perspective with their clients.”
– John P.

Home Helpers Monitoring Services

Home Helpers provides a wide array of monitoring services and medical alert devices designed to give seniors and others requiring in-home care the independence they need while also assuring safety, using quality systems to make sure our monitoring is as secure and efficient as possible.

Direct Link® Medical Alert Systems – Help at the Touch of a Button™

Direct Link® is our national provider of medical alert systems and personal emergency response systems (PERS), empowering seniors to live independently longer while also ensuring safety and security.
This is more than just a help button – we have:
  • 24-hour personal PERS devices
  • Fall sensors
  • Automated medication dispensers
  • Vital signs monitoring units
Each Direct Link unit links to a CSAA Five Diamond Certified central station, where staff is specially trained for medical emergency response situations.
Wish for the best and plan for the unexpected. When and if the need arises, Direct Link will be there.Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
WORRY LESS – HELP IS JUST A CLICK AWAY, 24/7
Seniors who have a personal emergency response system remain independent – and in the comfort of their own home – longer than those who do not, and research shows getting help within the first four hours of a fall can dramatically reduce the severity and effects.* Having a PERS boosts independence, safety, and self-confidence – all at the touch of a button. *According to the AC Nielsen Study

Automated Medication Dispenser

MANAGE MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS EASILY
Did you know approximately 20% of seniors are taking as many as 50 prescriptions every year?** That’s a lot to manage, even for the most organized of us. And it’s critical to be precise when it comes to your prescriptions. Direct Link’s automated medication dispenser is a simple, affordable, and reliable medical alert system solution for managing multiple medications safely and effectively.
**According to the Alliance for Health Reform

Vital Signs Monitoring

IMMEDIATE READINGS BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS
We’ve all heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But regularly monitoring chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) really can keep the doctor away, saving time and money while preventing unnecessary ER and hospital visits. All in the comfort of home.
Contact us today to learn more about Home Helpers Monitoring Services. Or contact your local Home Helpers office to schedule a free in-home consultation and discuss your family’s needs.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Home Instead Senior Care Presents Hallmark Channel Featured Film


Hallmark Channel Features "Let's Talk About Driving" Program


Home Instead Senior Care franchise owner Amy Huddleston shared tips on the Hallmark Channel's Home & Family show regarding how to address the sensitive topic of seniors and driving. The tips she shared are part of the "Let’s Talk About Driving" public education program, developed by Home Instead, Inc.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

The Women Vs. Men: Who Needs Long-Term Care Most Often?





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There's a reason you see many more older women than men at the bingo parlor - - women live longer than men. For most of us, that's really no secret, but the related numbers may be surprising:
  • 14% of the U.S. population is made up of older (65+) Americans.
  • Of this group, women outnumber men greater than 4:3.
  • Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 19.2 years (20.4 years for females and 17.8 years for males).
  • In Texas, the population of older Americans has increased over 30% from 2000 to 2011 (2.7 million).
  • Stress -- women, as a group, tend not to internalize stress as much as men.  Also important is the fact that women have stronger social connections than men, which help them vent and share their stress.
  • Delay of the onset of cardiovascular disease. Women tend to develop cardiovascular problems in their 70's and 80's, while the male trend is in the 40 - 50 age bracket. Estrogen is credited as keeping the arteries strong.
  • Men often take bigger risks with their well-being than women. Unfortunately this biological marker leads to more men dying earlier.
  • Women take better care of their health. It's estimated that 28% of men don't have a regular doctor.
The fact that women live longer means that many of them will need long-term care - and need it for a longer period of time than men. The insurance industry has taken note of this fact as well. Long-term care insurance rates rose between 20-30% for a female policy from 2013-2014, while a male policy actually dropped about 15%.
Many of the issues of aging can be solved by providing parents with the support they need to continue to maintain their independence. The resources provided by Caring Senior Service can help. ​Get in touch with us today!  http://phoenix.caringseniorservice.com 

Safeguard Elderly Against the Outdoor Heat



Safeguard Elderly Against the Outdoor Heat


Relaxen im Liegestuhl

As we get closer to the end of the dog days of summer we must remember that we are not out of danger when it comes to the heat of the late-summer sun. As we all know, the sun continues to provide us with its extensive warmth all the way through September.
The dangers involved with going out into the heat of the sun are often overshadowed by the dangers of sunburn. Prolonged exposure to the sun results in sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke. There are a number of things we can do to avoid these conditions but ultimately, the best way to avoid these dangers for our seniors, is to pay close attention to them.
1. Visit them twice a day and help them stay in contact with their neighbors. This is very helpful since seniors who remain isolated are at risk of heat related conditions.
2. Avoid going outside during the mid-day heat. Plan any errands for the morning or late evening.
3. Stay hydrated. Do not wait until you are thirsty since it takes time for your brain to signal thirst. It is important to note that for seniors, the thirst sensation is even less sensitive than that of younger adults.
4. Wear appropriate clothing. For seniors, the body's ability to cool itself is not as good as it once was. Compensate for this by donning clothes that are cool, breathable and loose-fitting.
5. Wear lots of sunscreen ensuring that the ears, nose and lips are protected with a minimum of an SPF 15 sunscreen. Consider wearing a hat and sunglasses as well. The hat will help protect your head and provide shade to your neck and face. Sunglasses with UV protection will protect your eyes and reduce the risk of developing cataracts.