What is “Do the Five?”

Posted in Caregiver in Headland AL, Home Care Services in Headland AL |

April 8, 2020

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Have you heard or seen Google’s “Do the Five” promotion. It’s a public awareness campaign the company has posted on its home page in cooperation with the World Health Organization. The goal is to make people aware that the best way to avoid spreading coronavirus is by practicing five important things.

 

Home Care Services in Headland AL: Do the Five

Home Care Services in Headland AL: Do the Five

 

 

#1 – Wash Your Hands Often

The most important thing is to wash your hands. Wash your hands for 20 seconds ensuring the soap gets between the fingers and under the fingernails. Scrub thoroughly for the full 20 seconds before rinsing in water that’s as hot as you can stand.

When it comes to how long COVID-19 lasts on surfaces, there is some uncertainty. The CDC says that the agency is learning new things about the disease regularly but to clean surfaces in your home each day. The U.S. Department of Health’s NIH says it can last on surfaces for several hours.

Keep washing hands or using hand sanitizer after you touch anything outside of your home, after you cough/sneeze or blow your nose, and constantly while preparing food. Moisturize if your skin’s getting dry.

 

#2 – Cough or Sneeze Into Your Elbow

If you have to cough or sneeze, turn your head and cough into your elbow. That helps keep the spray from a cough or sneeze from spreading. If you have a tissue nearby, use that and throw it out immediately after.

 

#3 – Don’t Touch Your Face

This one can be tough. If your nose is itching or you have dry skin or a skin condition like rosacea that makes your skin itchy, do not scratch or touch your face. If you absolutely cannot stand it and must, go wash your hands first and wash your hands after, too.

 

#4 – Keep Your Distance

While Google and WHO’s public health announcement says to stay more than three feet apart, the CDC recommends staying at least six feet apart. Keep your distance from others. If you’re taking a walk, cross the street if someone else is coming in your direction. In a store, keep that six-foot gap between you and other shoppers.

 

#5 – Stay Home if You Feel Sick

The symptoms of coronavirus are cough, fever, and shortness of breath. They can take anywhere from 2 to 14 days to appear after you’re exposed. If you have any of them or learn you were near someone who’s been diagnosed with COVID-19, stay at home. Do not go anywhere.

Call your doctor for advice. Seek medical treatment if your symptoms worsen to chest pain or pressure, a bluish tinge to the lips or face, confusion or difficulty staying awake, or difficulty breathing.

 

It’s important that your parents stay isolated at this time. That may mean staying away from them. If you can’t stop by, hire senior care services to check on them as often as is needed. Senior care aides can deliver groceries, pick up prescription refills, and make sure your parents are okay.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources:
Nih.gov
Cdc.gov

How Do You Handle Mistakes When You’re a Caregiver?

Posted in Caregiver in Headland AL, Home Care in Headland AL |

March 17, 2020

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If you’re someone who gets upset at even the smallest mistakes, you might find it difficult to get used to being a caregiver. The truth is that caregivers, just like other people, are going to make mistakes. What you do about those mistakes is what might be an even bigger question, though.

 

Home Care in Headland AL: Handle Mistakes as a Caregiver

Home Care in Headland AL: Handle Mistakes as a Caregiver

 

It’s Unrealistic to Expect Yourself to Be Perfect

Lots of caregivers make the mistake of expecting themselves to be perfect. That’s unreasonable and it’s not going to happen. If you’re striving for perfection, that’s an admirable goal, but you’re going to frustrate yourself and your senior. Learn how to let go of that desire to do and to be perfect, because it’s just going to cause you to continue to feel bad about making mistakes. Mistakes are a normal part of being human.

 

Use Mistakes as a Learning Tool 

When you can let go of perfectionism it becomes a lot easier to see mistakes as the opportunity that they are. Mistakes can be a powerful learning tool that helps you to see where you need more information and guidance. There’s a lot about being a caregiver that involves consistently learning more about everything from your senior’s needs to her health issues. The more you learn, the better. 

 

Another Source of Information Is Having Some Expert Help

There’s a lot that you can learn on your own and that’s definitely important. But there’s also a lot you can learn from someone who has more experience than you have with caregiving. Hiring home care providers is a great way to give yourself and your senior a helping hand and a wellspring of knowledge. Home care providers can help you to figure out what you most need to know and to understand to be of the most help to your senior.

 

Don’t Say Mean Things to Yourself

One of the most important things to know about making mistakes is that if you beat yourself up or say mean things to yourself, that’s not going to help you at all. No one responds well to someone, even themselves, berating them for a simple error. Try to remember to be gentle with yourself and to allow yourself to be human.

If you can get past the fear you have around doing something wrong or incorrectly for your elderly family member you’re going to become a much more confident and effective caregiver for her.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Four Places to Pay Extra Attention if Your Senior Has Memory Issues

Posted in Caregiver in Headland AL, Elder Care in Headland AL |

March 5, 2020

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Memory problems, particularly ones related to dementia or to Alzheimer’s disease, can rob your senior of so much that she’s used to handling on her own. At particular risk can be her safety because there’s so much that just might not seem dangerous to her anymore.

 

Elder Care in Headland AL: Places to Pay Extra Attention

Elder Care in Headland AL: Places to Pay Extra Attention

 

General Safety Around the House

Staying on top of general safety issues is paramount if your aging family member has memory issues. These may be things that she’s aware of on some level, but forgets to mention or forgets can be a problem. Check that her lights are functional. Make sure that handrails are secure. Take care of clutter whenever you can. Anything else that you can think of, add it to the list. If you’re doing regular safety sweeps, you should be able to stay on top of potential issues before there’s a true problem.

 

Take Stock of Any Household Chemicals

Another area you might want to pay very close attention to could be household chemicals. These are often chemicals that your senior may have been perfectly fine around for most of her life, but now it could be easy to forget what is safe to do with them and what isn’t. Even something as simple as window-cleaner can be distracting because of the unusual colors. It’s best to try to secure these if possible.

 

Your Senior’s Refrigerator May Need Some Help

Very often people with memory issues have difficulties with food. Your elderly family member may stop cleaning out her refrigerator, which can leave leftovers continuing to grow bacteria. Memory problems can also create a situation in which she starts to believe that those foods are perfectly fine for her to eat, which is not necessarily the case. She may forget to look at expiration dates, too. If you’re cleaning out her fridge regularly, that can solve the majority of that problem.

 

Doors, Drawers, and Cabinets Might Be an Issue

If your aging family member has extremely severe memory problems, then anything that can hold other things, like drawers and cabinets, might be something that can open doors to other issues for her. Using household safety locks can be an excellent solution. You may also want to reduce the likelihood that your senior might wander away. Putting special locks or alarms on exterior doors can be a good idea.

Keeping your senior safe can feel like a full-time job in itself as a caregiver. Having some extra help frees you up to handle other situations as they crop up. Elder care providers can also help your senior with other tasks, like personal care tasks and activities that help her to stay physically and mentally active.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

What Causes Pericarditis?

Posted in Caregiver in Headland AL, Homecare in Headland AL, Senior Health |

January 8, 2019

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Pericarditis is a heart condition that occurs when the sac that surrounds the heart, called the pericardium, becomes inflamed. The inflammation may cause chest pain as well as other symptoms. It can be acute, with symptoms coming on suddenly, or chronic, coming on gradually and lasting for a long time. Many times, pericarditis is mild and does not require treatment. However, it can be more severe and require medication or even surgery.

 

Homecare in Headland AL: What Causes Pericarditis?

Homecare in Headland AL: What Causes Pericarditis?

 

About Pericarditis

The pericardium is comprised of a few layers. Pericarditis occurs when the layers become swollen. The swelling of the layers leaves less room for movement between them, so they may rub together. When they do, the person may experience sharp chest pain. The pain can be so severe that the person may think they are having a heart attack.

 

Pericarditis Causes

Many times, doctors aren’t able to find the cause of pericarditis. They may refer to the condition as idiopathic (having an unknown cause) pericarditis. They may also call it viral pericarditis, assuming that it is caused by a virus attacking the body. However, pericarditis can also occur because of other conditions.

Some other possible causes of pericarditis are:

 

Heart Attack or Surgery: The layers of the pericardium can become irritated because of damage to the heart caused by a heart attack. Having heart surgery may also cause the pericardium to become inflamed.

Inflammatory Disorders: Conditions that cause systemic inflammation, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, may also cause inflammation in the pericardium.

Medications: Rarely, certain medications may cause pericarditis as a side effect.

Trauma: If the chest or heart have been injured, such as in a car accident, pericarditis may occur.

Other Conditions: Some other medical conditions can cause pericarditis, too, including cancer, AIDS, kidney failure, and tuberculosis.

 

Pericarditis Symptoms

Not everyone with pericarditis will experience the same symptoms. Some possible symptoms are:

  • Sharp chest pain that occurs in the center of the chest or off to the left side. The pain is often worse when the person breathes in.
  • Trouble breathing while laying down or reclining.
  • Heart palpitations.
  • A low fever.
  • Feeling weak, tired, or ill.
  • Coughing.
  • Swelling in the abdomen or legs.

If your aging relative develops pericarditis, elderly care can help them while they recover. An elderly care provider can remind the older adult to take medications prescribed to relieve symptoms and treat the underlying cause. An elderly care provider can also allow the senior to rest while they manage household chores, such as cleaning, doing dishes, and preparing meals. Elderly care providers can also monitor the older adult for changes in symptoms that may indicate a need for additional medical care.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Sources

http://www.heart.org/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/

https://www.webmd.com/

Considering a Pet for Your Senior During Adopt-a-Cat Month?

Posted in Caregiver in Headland AL, Elderly Care in Headland AL, Senior Care in Headland AL |

June 6, 2018

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June is adopt a cat month. As a family caregiver, this is an ideal opportunity for you to learn more about how pet ownership can benefit your parents, and consider bringing a new furry best friend into your parent’s life. This can make a tremendous difference in their life, health, and well-being. Studies have shown that regularly interacting with animals can be a powerful way to improve physical health and well-being, as well as mental and emotional health and well-being. This is not only valuable to your senior, but also to you as their caregiver.

 

Elderly Care in Headland AL: Adopt-a-Cat Month

Elderly Care in Headland AL: Adopt-a-Cat Month

 

Some of the potential benefits your aging parent could experience by bringing a pet into their life include:

● More companionship. Many elderly adults deal with loneliness and isolation as they get older. The loss of friends and family members, moving away from where they have always lived, and mobility and other issues that keep them from participating in activities can leave your parent without the companionship and social interaction they need. Having a pet can offer companionship that reduces the sense of loneliness, and offers a boost in mental stimulation.

● Creating structure and routine in their day. Predictability and routine are very valuable for older adults. These create structure in the day, increase motivation, and reduce a sense of disconnection. A pet provides this structure and routine for your loved one. They must remember to care for the pet by feeding and watering, cleaning up behind them, playing, grooming, and more.

● Increased opportunity for exercise. Getting enough physical activity is very important for your older adult. They may not find as many ways in their daily routine to get this activity, however. With a pet, they are presented with more opportunity to exercise in a way that’s fun and enjoyable for them. With a cat, this can mean rolling a ball for them to chase, playing with a laser pointer or feather toy, and other playful activities.

● Reduced stress. Regularly interacting with a pet has been shown to reduce stress, and protect against the potential dangers of this condition. Lowering blood pressure, improving cardiovascular health, and preventing mental-emotional health consequences can all be achieved through this reduction in stress.

Starting home care for your aging parents can be a fantastic way to enhance their quality of life and support them and living the lifestyle they desire as they age in place.

There is a common misconception that care such as this is only appropriate or beneficial for those who are at a very advanced age, or who experience extensive challenges and limitations. This, however, is not the case. Even those seniors with only mild or moderate care needs can benefit greatly from the highly personalized services of an in-home care provider. This care can help your parent manage their basic daily needs while also supporting a more fulfilling life through encouraging them to stay active, enjoy activities, and enrich their lives through such things as owning a pet.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

https://money.usnews.com/

February is Low Vision Awareness Month: Ways to Help a Senior with Low Vision

Posted in Caregiver in Headland AL, Low Vision, Senior Care in Headland AL, Senior Eye care, Senior Health |

February 21, 2018

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There are 4.2 million Americans over the age of 40 who have low vision. A person who has low vision cannot regain their eyesight with surgery, medication, contact lenses, or eyeglasses. The loss is permanent and affects their ability to do everyday things like reading, driving, cooking, and shopping. Being unable to do these things causes them to lose some of their independence and may lead to anxiety and depression. Understanding vision loss and how to help your aging relative can improve their quality of life and reduce the psychological impact.

 

Caregiver in Headland AL: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

Caregiver in Headland AL: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

 

Causes of Low Vision

There are several conditions that can cause low vision in older adults. Some of them are:

 

Macular Degeneration: This condition affects a part of the retina called the macula, which is the part of the eye that allows for clear, sharp central vision. Macular degeneration makes vision blurry. Some people also experience a blind spot in their vision.

 

Diabetic Retinopathy: When a person has diabetes, it can cause extra tiny blood vessels to develop in the retina. These blood vessels can leak and interfere with vision.

 

Cataracts: Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, which means that light doesn’t reach the retina as easily, causing a general loss of vision.

 

Glaucoma: Glaucoma damages the optic nerve. It happens when pressure builds up in the eye because of problems with fluids draining or when the optic nerve isn’t receiving enough blood.

 

Helping a Senior with Low Vision

One way to help a senior with low vision to live a better life and continue to be as independent as possible is to hire senior care. There are many things a senior care provider can do to assist with daily activities, such as:

 

Ensuring the House is Well Lit: Keeping the house brightly lit can help a senior to better use the vision they have left. A senior care provider can help with this by turning on lamps and lights. They can also change light bulbs that have burned out.

 

Keeping the House Clutter-Free: A person with low vision is more likely to trip over items that are in the way. A senior care provider can keep the house tidy by picking up things left lying around and organizing messy areas.

 

Helping Them Stay Active: Being unable to see may cause a senior to become less active than they once were. A senior care provider can help them to continue being active by accompanying them on walks or driving them to fitness classes.

Reading: A senior care provider can read to the older adult. They can read mail, medication instructions, newspapers, and books to your aging relative.

Even with vision loss, your loved one can lead a full and happy life. A senior care provider can be an important part of their daily care. Senior care providers can ensure the older adult is able to remain safely at home, even when you cannot be there to help.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Caregiver in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources

https://nei.nih.gov

http://www.allaboutvision.com

https://www.enhancedvision.com

https://www.aoa.org