Homecare Makes Life Easier For Seniors And Families

Posted in Homecare, Homecare Assistance |

April 28, 2022

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If you have a senior parent that really wants to stay in their own home as they get older but you’re worried about them being safe homecare is the solution you need. There are a lot of benefits that seniors can get from aging in place in the comfort of their familiar home. But there are also some tasks that are going to get harder as they get older. And if your senior parent has existing medical conditions those household tasks could be even tougher. That’s where home care comes in. A skilled care provider can give you peace of mind while giving your senior loved ones the extra help they need. A few of the many benefits of home care for seniors are:

 

Homecare in Enterprise AL: Homecare Assistance

Homecare in Enterprise AL: Homecare Assistance

 

Consistency Of Care

Home caregivers are more than just people who stop in to take care of your parent. They are trusted friends and companions who can really bond with your senior parent. Seniors need social connections just as much as they need healthy food or clean laundry. Care providers can give your senior loved one all of those things and more.

If your senior loved one finds it challenging to get out of the house because they have limited mobility or because they don’t drive any longer having a care provider come to the house provides essential human connection as well as other services. And because your senior parent will have the same caregiver regularly that caregiver will notice if your senior loved one has new symptoms or isn’t eating the way they usually do or other signs of potential problems.

 

Help With The Hard Stuff

Deep cleaning the house can be challenging for anyone. When was the last time you scrubbed your bathroom or mopped the stairs? Household chores are physically challenging, especially for seniors. But home care providers help seniors with the hard stuff like vacuuming and scrubbing. They help with the heavy stuff too like laundry and putting clothes away. And they help with the messy stuff like cleaning the bathroom, cleaning out the refrigerator, or deep cleaning the kitchen.

 

Help With The Personal Stuff

It can be very difficult for a senior parent to talk to their child about having a tough time with personal tasks like getting dressed, shaving, showering, or brushing their teeth. But an experienced care provider can help seniors get out of bed, get showered, get dressed, and do other personal care tasks that may be too tough for them physically. It’s only natural that seniors want to look and feel their best. Home care gives them the opportunity to do that without having the embarrassment or awkwardness of asking their child for help.

 

Homecare Help You Can Depend On 

If you live far away from your senior loved one, or if you work full-time and can’t always be there for your senior loved one the way you wish you could home care is something you can depend on to keep your senior loved one safe at home.

 

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

Learn More About Brain Injuries and Diseases During Brain Awareness Week

Posted in Brain Awareness, Homecare |

March 8, 2022

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Homecare: Brain Awareness Week was created to raise interest in everything the brain does.

The goal involved helping organizations worldwide work together to find treatments and cures for many brain conditions and diseases. When something happens that impacts brain health, the results can be disabling. Learn more about the brain injuries and diseases your parents may encounter as they age. Having a homecare specialist on hand can be a great relief to you.

 

Homecare in Eufaula AL: Brain Awareness

Homecare in Eufaula AL: Brain Awareness


ALS

ALS is commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It’s a progressive disease where neurons in the brain deteriorate, leading to a loss of muscle function. Common symptoms include frequent falls, muscle weakness in the hands, feet, legs, and ankles, difficulty swallowing, and emotional outbursts.


Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, but there are others. As the disease progresses, it impacts brain health, causing loss of memories, mobility, motor skills, toileting, and speech.

In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, your mom or dad will be able to provide the care they need. As the disease moves into the middle and late stages, your parent won’t always recognize you. Speech diminishes to a point your mom or dad won’t say more than simple phrases. Eventually, they won’t talk at all.

Eventually, there is no strength to stand, making a wheelchair and shower seat necessary. Muscle weakness prevents your parent from holding things like spoons for eating. The more advanced it gets, the more there’s a need for round-the-clock care.


Stroke

There are two key reasons for strokes to occur. The most common occurs when blood clots or plaque build-up creates a clog that slows or blocks blood flow to the brain. The other occurs when a ruptured blood vessel allows blood to leak into brain tissue.

A stroke may cause partial or permanent loss of speech, motor function, and vision, depending on the severity. Your mom or dad needs someone with them to help out throughout the day and night.


Traumatic Brain Injuries

Your mom or dad was walking to the bathroom and tripped. In the fall, the head strikes the wall, floor, or piece of furniture. That can lead to traumatic brain injuries like concussions or skull fractures.

Traumatic brain injuries need immediate medical attention. They can be minor or severe. Urgent treatment through MRIs and CT scans is the best way to check for injuries that can impact physical and mental abilities.

If it’s a concussion, your mom or dad will need someone with them to watch how they do over 24 hours. Sudden headaches, dizziness, or slurred speech are signs more medical attention is necessary.

After a fall, stroke, or dementia diagnosis, it’s essential to arrange home care services that support your parent. Call a home care agency and ask to learn more about services that are available from professional caregivers.

 

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

Homecare: How To Help Seniors Manage Stress?

Posted in Homecare, Senior Stress |

January 18, 2022

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Homecare: Understanding stress and how it can affect seniors is the first step in figuring out how to help your parents manage stress.

There may be things that you don’t even know about going on. Maybe they can no longer work their homes on their own but refuse to move, perhaps they cannot cook for themselves, or maybe they refuse to ask you for help in fear of being a burden. Homecare service providers can help reduce some of the stress a senior feels, but there are also things you can do on your own.

 

Homecare in Ozark AL: Senior Stress

Homecare in Ozark AL: Senior Stress

 

Many seniors want to age in place, and that is an understandable desire. Going to a senior community or nursing home is not always a comforting thought. 24-hour home care can be a better option for seniors who want to remain independent, but that doesn’t always solve all of the issues causing a senior stress in life.

Chronic stress can be severe and even deadly for seniors. Chronic stress is defined as “A consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time.” Many symptoms come from having chronic stress, and that is why it can be so essential to help your loved ones manage the stress in their lives. This may mean you hire extra help or spend more time with them to help limit the chronic stress they feel. Here are some tips to help you understand how you might help a senior dealing with an enormous amount of stress.

Evaluate Diet

Believe it or not, some foods can induce stress whereas fresh whole foods can help limit stress and become overall healthier. Things like sugar release more cortisol which controls blood sugar and stress levels. When you add more into your diet your blood sugar and stress levels may spike. It is best to understand what foods may cause a senior unnecessary stress and eat alternative foods.

Evaluate Sleep

It is crucial for seniors to get adequate sleep. There is some myth out there that says seniors need less sleep than everyone else. That is not entirely true. As someone ages their sleeping patterns may change, they may go to bed earlier and get up earlier but they still need that rest to shut down for the night and re-energize for the next day. Loss of sleep can cause stress and anxiety that a senior shouldn’t have to deal with.

Find Activities

Activities for seniors to socialize in or meet new people may keep them from feeling stress. Sometimes a senior can stress because they are not focused on something proactive or they have too much time to sit and stress. Sometimes it is best to become distracted especially when the stressors are out of the family’s control. Encourage the seniors to get out and have hobbies.

Homecare: Organize The Space

Seniors who want to stay at home should try to avoid clutter. A simple thing like going through things purging and organizing can help limit the stress a senior feels daily. It may be something you can do together.

 

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

 

Sources:

https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/stress-disorder