What Are the Key Indicators That Elder Care is Needed?

Posted in Elder Care in Abbeville AL, Home Health Care in Abbeville AL |

December 3, 2020

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Pew Research reports that almost 3 out of 10 older adults live alone.
Some live with a spouse or significant other, but there are older adults who share their home with no one else. If something happens, how soon would anyone know?

Elder care services are a supportive way to help older adults age at home. It does pose questions. How are families supposed to know when their parents need elder care? These are the signs families should look for.

 

Home Health Care in Abbeville AL: Elder Care Need Indicators

Home Health Care in Abbeville AL: Elder Care Need Indicators

 

A Messy Home

As mobility and strength change, keeping a house clean and organized becomes harder. Piles of laundry build up because the laundry room is not easily accessible. Stairs are covered in pet fur and dust because it’s hard to vacuum while also carrying the unit up and down the stairs.

An older adult may grow tired of scrubbing a bathtub and let the stains and mildew build up. Keeping a fridge clean and organized may be too hard, so items that are expired remain in place create foul odors.

 

Loneliness

Living alone can be lonely. Someone may be fine for a week and suddenly want to see others. Aging adds to this as people move to new locations after retirement. Some seek a warmer climate, others want to be closer to grandchildren. Some move to new countries for a lower cost of living or cultural experience.

As friends move away, older adults find their social circle shrinks. Soon, there is no one left to socialize with. That impacts health and happiness. Finding new companions is essential. Elder care companionship services make sure seniors have people to talk to.

 

Forgotten Medications

Many older adults are taking at least one prescription medication each day. Some take multiple medications. Add over-the-counter vitamins and supplements to that. It can be hard to keep track of.
A skipped dose every now and then can be detrimental.

 

Isolation

Living alone is isolating. Some do better than others, but you’re still alone. Those who live in a remote area can feel especially isolated. If they no longer drive, it’s worse.

Elder care aides can drive their clients to stores or simply take them on a scenic drive for a change of pace. Transportation services also cover trips to appointments and area stores for grocery shopping and other necessary purchases.

Make arrangements for elder care by picking up the phone. Call a specialist, ask about the range of available services, and decide which help the most when it comes to aging at home.

 

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

 

Sources:

https://www.pewresearch.org

What Desserts Can Diabetics Eat?

Posted in Elder Care in Abbeville AL, Elderly Care in Abbeville AL, Homecare in Abbeville AL |

January 8, 2020

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When diagnosed with diabetes, many older adults immediately assume that anything containing sugar is off-limits. This can leave them mourning the loss of beloved desserts. The truth is that having diabetes doesn’t have to be about restrictions. Instead, it can be about moderation. This means that desserts aren’t off the table. Instead, older adults with diabetes need to make smarter choices. There are many kinds of desserts that won’t interfere with maintaining a healthy blood sugar level. Below are some tips that can help seniors with diabetes continue to enjoy desserts.

 

Homecare in Abbeville AL: Desserts Diabetics Can Eat

Homecare in Abbeville AL: Desserts Diabetics Can Eat

 

Keep it Small

The larger the serving of dessert the older adult eats, the more sugar they eat, too. By keeping portion sizes small, the seniors can enjoy the sweet flavor without throwing off their entire meal plan. It can help to serve desserts in smaller dishes since it can trick the senior’s eyes into thinking they are getting more. For example, instead of serving a piece of cake on a dinner plate, use smaller dessert plates or a teacup saucer, which is even smaller.

 

Make Dessert in Small Amounts

Cut recipes in half or even smaller. This prevents tempting desserts from hanging around the house for days. You might even consider making desserts in single portion sizes whenever possible. Family caregivers may want to prepare the dessert at their house and bring just one piece over for the seniors to enjoy. Another idea is to make the dessert with the senior and then share it with friends or neighbors. The older adult gets to enjoy the dessert and also gets the joy of the smile and gratitude of the person they share it with.

 

Plan Ahead

It’s important to know the older adult will be having dessert later in the day so that carbs can be reduced in other meals. In other words, balance the carbs in the dessert with other foods the senior eats throughout the day.

 

Choose Sugar-Free Desserts

Consider making sugar-free desserts, like a sugar-free hot chocolate or gelatin. Fruit is also a good choice, like some berries topped with sugar-free whipped topping. You can also bake desserts using sugar substitutes.

If your older family member has diabetes and also a bit of a sweet tooth, a home care provider can help them to balance the two. Home care providers can assist with making healthy meals that allow the older adult to enjoy a dessert now and then. In fact, the home care provider can prepare the dessert, too. In addition, the home care provider can remind the older adult to check their blood sugar level, so they know how the foods they eat affect their blood sugar.

 

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

Sources

https://www.healthline.com/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/

https://www.webmd.com/

Four Strategies to Prevent Wandering

Posted in Elder Care in Abbeville AL, Elderly Care in Abbeville AL, Home Care in Abbeville AL |

February 19, 2019

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The first time that your senior wanders off, you might be terrified.
To prevent that, you might want to try some of these techniques that other caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease have found to be helpful. Every situation can be a little bit different, but the changes going on in your senior’s brain can make her feel insecure and a little bit lost. These techniques can help her to feel safe again.

 

Elderly Care in Abbeville AL: Strategies to Prevent Wandering

Elderly Care in Abbeville AL: Strategies to Prevent Wandering

 

Set up a Timed Daily Schedule

It might feel restrictive, but a timed daily schedule is a good idea for someone who tends to wander. The routine can be comforting for your elderly family member, especially if anxiety or discomfort are common triggers for her to wander. You might want to adjust the schedule as you learn more about what times work best for certain activities.

 

Track Activities and Symptoms

Keep track of what your aging family member does and how she responds to those activities. This can help you to narrow down whether or not the schedule you’ve developed is helping her or not. You might also spot areas in the routine where switching activities around or adding something like a walk after a meal can help your elderly family member deal with restlessness.

 

Make Sure You’re Meeting All Basic Needs

One of the most effective strategies you can use is to keep track of your elderly family member’s basic needs. Hunger, thirst, and bathroom needs can be some of the biggest reasons that your elderly family member might attempt to wander off. When you’re targeting those needs most effectively, you’re going to see a much bigger reduction in restlessness.

 

Use Plenty of Reassurance

Disorientation is extremely disturbing for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. If you can build reassurance into each day, that can go a long way toward helping her to feel comfortable. Try to avoid negative responses when possible and just let her know that she’s safe and that you’re there with her. Reassurance can sometimes be just what she needs to hear in order to stay calm and to remember that she’s secure.

You may not be able to prevent wandering every time, even if you use all of these strategies regularly. Elder care providers can help you to become more comfortable with what you’re learning and trying while also helping you keep an eye on your senior. Remember that you’re doing the best you can, so go easy on yourself.

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

Preventing Accidental Poisoning and Other Injuries During the Christmas Season

Posted in Elder Care in Abbeville AL, Home Care in Abbeville AL, Senior Care in Abbeville AL |

December 4, 2018

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Christmas is a joyous time to celebrate with your loved ones, but it can also have many hidden challenges and dangers.
This is particularly true for an elderly adult who may be coping with challenges and limitations such as cognitive functioning decline. As a family caregiver, it is important to be aware of the risks your senior might face during this time, including accidental poisoning and other injuries. Taking steps to prevent these dangers allows your parent to enjoy the holiday season in a safe and healthy way.

 

Home Care in Abbeville AL: Preventing Accidental Poisoning

Home Care in Abbeville AL: Preventing Accidental Poisoning

 

Use these tips to prevent accidental poisoning and other injuries during the Christmas season:

 

-Keep food safety in mind during all aspects of the holiday season. Remember even when the weather is cold, foodborne infection and illness is a hazard. Keep food at safe temperatures, make sure leftovers sent with family are kept well-chilled, and discard any leftovers not properly maintained

 

-Avoid having poisonous plants in the home. Poinsettias, holly, and other seasonal plants can be extremely dangerous. This is very important if your parent struggles with cognitive functioning decline and may get confused and consume these items

 

-Do not decorate with artificial candy or food. Your parent or children might get confused and try to eat them, which can lead to choking.

 

-Avoid air fresheners that look like hard candy. This can lead to poisoning if consumed

Make sure to keep up with your senior’s medication reminders during holiday celebrations. This is especially important if their doctor gave them extra medication to have around during celebrations or for when you are traveling. Make sure your parent is taking only the amount they should when they should.

 

-Do not leave alcohol easily accessible.

 

Caring for an elderly adult who is living with cognitive functioning decline can be extremely challenging. Fortunately, elder care can help. An elderly home care services provider can step in to care for your aging parent in personalized ways designed not just to help them cope with these changes, but also to encourage their highest quality of life.

Not only will this help your parent stay healthier and safer throughout their later years, but it will also reduce your stress and enable you to maintain better well-being throughout this care experience. Due to the completely customizable nature of the care, you can feel confident even when your parent’s needs increase, so will their care.

 

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

 

Sources:

https://www.poison.org/

How Can You Start to Assess Your Senior’s Needs?

Posted in Caregiver Tips, Elder Care in Abbeville AL, Senior Health |

December 21, 2017

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Determining what your aging adult needs and what it’s going to take in order to help her is a giant task. As her caregiver, you’ll need to break it down into steps that help you to see the whole picture.

 

Elder Care in Abbeville AL: Caregiver Tips

Elder Care in Abbeville AL: Caregiver Tips

Talk with Her Doctor

Setting up a meeting with your aging adult’s doctor can help you to understand exactly what’s going on with her health. Be sure that you ask about the immediate and longer-term future, too. The more information that you have in order to make decisions, the better.

 

What Types of Assistance Are Necessary

Your aging adult may need a variety of different types of assistance ranging from frequent doctor’s appointments to hospital visits, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. It may be time for your aging adult to stop driving, which means that help with transportation could become an issue now. If she’s no longer able to cook for herself, help with meal preparation or meal delivery is vital.

 

Look at Who Can Provide that Assistance

As your senior’s primary family caregiver, it’s possible that the bulk of what your senior needs will fall to you to carry out for her. But you’re only one person and as much as you may want to do everything yourself, that’s just not reasonable. Getting help from other family members, elderly care providers, and friends can help you to ensure that all of the bases get covered.

 

Determine if Home Modifications Are in Order

Depending on the needs your aging adult has, she may need some home modifications to make her home safer or more secure. Doing this properly helps her to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible, which is frequently a goal for aging adults.

 

Revisit the Process Periodically

This is a process you’ll need to revisit periodically as your needs change, as your senior’s needs change, and as her health changes. Setting aside time quarterly or even just a couple of times a year can help you to think through what’s changed for your aging adult and to respond accordingly.

Take a deep breath and remember to be good to yourself as you learn to be a caregiver. You’re doing something amazing for your aging adult and need to give yourself time to learn the ropes.

 

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