Learn About Blood Pressure in Older Adults

Posted in Blood Pressure, Senior Health |

May 11, 2022

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It is important, as a family caregiver, to better understand blood pressure in older adults. It is important to understand the difference between systolic (first number) and diastolic (second number), too. A home health care services provider can help with this.

 

Home Health Care in Headland AL: Blood Pressure

Home Health Care in Headland AL: Blood Pressure

 

Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure

As noted above, it is vital to understand the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure is the pressure of the heart contracting while it pushes out blood. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure that occurs when the heart relaxes and fills up with blood again. Blood pressure is the systolic number over the diastolic number.

Low Blood Pressure

Your elderly loved one might have low blood pressure if they feel faint, dizzy, weak, or lightheaded. Generally, low blood pressure is classified as 90 over 60 or lower. There are many things that can cause low blood pressure including blood loss, dehydration, medical conditions, and some medications. If your elderly loved one doesn’t have a diagnosis of low blood pressure yet, but they are experiencing these symptoms mentioned here, be sure that you or an in-home care provider bring them to their doctor to discuss this.

 

Normal Blood Pressure

If your elderly loved one is healthy, they may have normal blood pressure. Generally, the normal blood pressure for elderly adults is considered to be 120 over 80 or right around these numbers. Some healthy elderly adults have a blood pressure of 125/70, for example. That is still considered to be normal.

 

Elevated Blood Pressure

Your elderly loved one may not have high blood pressure, but their numbers could be elevated. The elevated blood pressure levels are generally around 120 to 129 and a diastolic of under 80.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is one of the most damaging levels. Generally, high blood pressure is considered to be 130 or above for systolic and 80 or above for diastolic. If your elderly loved one feels their heart racing or they just don’t feel right, you or an in-home care provider may want to check their blood pressure. If they have high blood pressure on repeated occasions, it may be a good idea to have them see their doctor for a physical or checkup.

 

Conclusion

Hopefully, with this information, you have learned more about blood pressure in older adults. The more you know about this subject, the more you can keep an eye on your elderly loved one’s blood pressure. If, at any point, you are concerned with the numbers on a blood pressure reading for your elderly loved one, give their doctor a call or take them to the emergency room (if it is too high or too low). Sometimes, it is something minor like dehydration, but other times it can be serious.

 

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

 

Sources

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure-and-older-adults

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.

Understanding the Fear That Arises After a Fall

Posted in Elder Care, Elder Care Tips |

April 10, 2022

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Every year, one out of four older Americans falls. Counting those falls, fractured bones or head injuries occur 20% of the time. Your dad fell, and he’s been anxious about falling again. It’s impacting his daily activities. What can you or an elder care provider do?

 

Elder Care in Elba AL: Elder Care Tips

Elder Care in Elba AL: Elder Care Tips

 

Discuss the Reason for His Fall

Find out why your dad fell. He may not immediately know, but it can help to go over what he was doing. With that information, you can narrow down possible causes for the fall.

For example, your dad fell an hour after he took his blood pressure medication. Ask him if he felt dizzy. When the side effects of a prescription drug include dizziness, it does increase the risk of a fall. To adjust to the dizziness, he could ask about taking the medications before getting into bed for the night or taking it and then sitting down for a couple of hours to eliminate the risk of falling again.

Maybe his blood sugar levels were low. He can prevent additional falls by ensuring he’s not skipping meals and eating snacks regularly to keep his blood sugar levels stabilized.

If he tripped on something he’d put on the floor, it helps to go through his home and clear any clutter. Organizing his rooms to ensure everything is out of the way will help prevent future falls.

Find Out What Will Help Ease His Fear

Talk to your dad about the steps that can be taken to ease his fear. Suppose he was out for his daily walk and slipped on packed snow. Invest in a set of ice cleats that he can put on his shoes to keep from slipping on the ice again. He may feel better walking with someone else rather than walking alone in the future.

If medication side effects cause dizziness, he might want to have someone else in the home when he takes them. Arrange to have an elder care aide with him in the morning until the dizziness passes. You could also talk to his doctor to see if there’s a different medication with fewer side effects that would work just as well.

Hire Elder Care Services

Why did your dad fall? It could be time to have elder care aides around to help him with mobility. With the support of a caregiver, your dad can safely get out of bed. He has help getting in and out of the shower or on and off of the sofa. Call an elder care specialist to schedule caregiver services.

 

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.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html

Why Does Your Mom Struggle to Recognize Scams?

Posted in Caregiver Tips, Senior Care, Senior Scams |

March 30, 2022

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Two years ago, older adults lost around $600 million to scammers. Pandemic-related scams fooled many people, leading to a swift increase in many scams. Shopping scams increased by 129%. You’ve told your mom all about recognizing scams, yet she still believes many of the emails or calls she gets. You can’t take her phone away, but you see that as the only way to keep her from answering calls. Why does she have such a hard time recognizing scams? Having a senior care services provider on hand to help out with this is a great idea.

 

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Senior Scams

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Senior Scams

 

Scams Can Be Incredibly Convincing

Some scams are extremely convincing. Scammers use the power of social media and the internet to find out as much as they can about your mom. The grandparent scam is a good example of this.

Scammers will look at social media accounts to find photos that show where a grandchild is going to college or on vacation. They know information that convinces your mom the caller knows or is the grandchild in question.

Mail scams are also common. One person received a letter from a major cellphone company thanking the customer for applying for a new phone account. The letterhead seemed authentic. The company address checked out.

Nothing in the letter seemed false, but the person hadn’t applied for a new phone. Questions arose as to why it claimed credit reports were pulled. The recipient had credit freezes in place. One number in the credit report section turned out to be a fake. Had the recipient called that number, they would have connected with the scammers.

Scammers Work to Improve Their Tactics

As scams fail, the reasons why they failed help con artists improve their tactics. When people smartened up to gift cards or money orders being a sure sign of a scam, con artists asked people to withdraw cash, put it in a box, and send it via a delivery service.

Some scams could use something as simple as answering the phone and saying “yes” to pull off scams. Recording the “yes” was all it took to sign people up for costly services or charges they never agreed to.

Does She Lack Companionship?

Sometimes, older adults don’t have many people to talk to. If the phone rings, they answer it. Once they’re on the line, the scammer can use persuasive techniques to convince your mom they genuinely want to help her.

Have you considered that your mom is lonely and likes having someone to talk to? If she keeps answering the phone due to loneliness, hire senior home care aides for companionship and assistance with her mail, phone calls, and emails.

When she has caregivers available to talk to each week, she may no longer feel the need to rush to answer the phone. Call a senior care agency to learn more.

 

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

Sources:

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2020/ftc-top-scams.html

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.

What Is Causing Your Dad’s Foot Pain?

Posted in Foot Care, Home Health Care |

February 28, 2022

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Home Health Care: Your dad doesn’t seem to walk much.

When he does, your dad complains about foot pain. So, he ambles and limits how long he’s on his feet. Mobility issues caused by pain are common, but the issue needs to be addressed by you, your home health care provider, and your doctor. What’s causing your dad’s foot pain?

 

Home Health Care in Elba AL: Foot Care

Home Health Care in Elba AL: Foot Care

Do His Shoes Fit?

One of the leading causes of foot pain is that the shoes don’t fit. Has your dad ever measured his feet to ensure his shoes are correctly sized? If not, it’s time. Once he knows his size, he should try different brands to find the best fit.

When he tries on shoes, make sure it’s late in the afternoon when he’s been on his feet for most of the day. His feet will be swollen at this point, so you know the fit will account for swelling.

If the shoes pinch anywhere or are too loose and rub, he needs to adjust the size accordingly. Go a half size smaller or larger. If the shoe pinches, go a half size up or try a wider fit. If they’re too loose, go down half a size.

Different brands will use their own size guidelines, so the size 10 that fits well with one brand may not be the same with another brand. Your dad could be a size 11 with another company. Once he finds a brand that fits comfortably, try sticking to that manufacturer.


Foot Care Is Crucial

Something as simple as toenails that have grown too long can lead to severe foot pain. If the nails are too long, they can cut into other toes when he puts shoes on. They can curl into his toe if they get too long. His nails need to be trimmed straight across and not rounded. They shouldn’t extend beyond the end of the toe.

Dry, cracked heels happen and can cause pain and infection. Keeping the skin moisturized helps with this. Exfoliating the dead skin is also essential. If your dad cannot reach his feet on his own, he needs to have a caregiver helping him. You can help with this task if you want or hire personal care at home aides.

Personal care at home aides can help your dad keep up with appointments with a podiatrist. They can help him at shoe-fitting appointments, assist him on walks, and help him with foot care at home. Learn more about personal care at home by calling a home care agency.

 

 

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.

Home Health Care: Sleep Improvement: What Can Senior Citizens Do to Get Better Sleep Quality?

Posted in Home Health Care, Quality Sleep |

February 9, 2022

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Home Health Care: Does your elderly loved one get enough quality sleep?

It is important to note that just because they are sleeping 8 to 9 hours every night, that doesn’t mean the sleep they are getting is quality. On the other side, just because they are only getting 6 hours of sleep each night, that doesn’t mean they aren’t getting quality sleep. You or the home health care providers can watch for signs of exhaustion or tiredness. If your elderly loved one doesn’t seem like they are sleeping well, there are some ways to improve the quality of their sleep.

 

Home Health Care in Eufaula AL: Senior Sleep Improvement

Home Health Care in Eufaula AL: Senior Sleep Improvement

 

Find the Problem

If your elderly loved one isn’t sleeping well, the first step is to find out the problem. It is difficult to make a proper solution if you don’t know what is wrong in the first place. Some common things that cause sleep difficulties in the elderly include:

  • Taking pain medications too close to bedtime
  • Drinking caffeinated beverages later in the day
  • Exercising too close to bedtime
  • Having loud noises in the home
  • Sleeping with the lights on
  • Using electronics in the bedroom

If you or home care providers can help your elderly loved one to find the reason why they aren’t getting good sleep, you can make a plan to solve that problem.

 

Setting Up a Routine 

Is your elderly loved one on an erratic sleep schedule? Maybe, some nights they aren’t going to sleep until 3 a.m and other nights they are going to sleep at 10 p.m. Some mornings they may be sleeping in until 11 a.m. and other mornings they are up by 5 a.m. The more erratic your elderly loved one’s sleep schedule is, the less quality sleep they are going to get. If this is happening for your elderly loved one, you or in-home care providers can work with them to set up a better sleep routine. They should find a time that works best for them to wake up in the morning. Then, they should figure out how much sleep they need to feel rested. For some elderly people it is about 6 hours and others might need a lot more. This is going to be some trial and error.

Home Health Care: Conclusion

There are far too many senior citizens who aren’t sleeping well at night or not sleeping enough. It is important to remember that sleeping too much can cause issues, as well. It is crucial that you and senior care providers help your elderly loved one to find the source of their sleep issues. Then, you can help them to make a plan, so they can finally start getting quality sleep on a regular basis.

 

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.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5300306/

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/good-nights-sleep

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

Home Care: 4 Steps for Helping Your Senior Improve Her Diet

Posted in Home Care, Malnutrition |

January 6, 2022

| by

Home Care: If you’ve been wondering how you can help your elderly family member to eat better more consistently, you’re not alone.

That’s a big concern for a lot of family caregivers because it directly relates to keeping your senior as healthy as possible. It can take a little bit of trial and error to find the system that works best for your senior, but a combination of these ideas can be really helpful for you and your home care provider.

 

Home Care: Senior Malnutrition

Home Care: Senior Malnutrition

 

Set up Reminders in a Variety of Ways

It can be really easy for your senior to forget to eat. That sounds silly, but if she’s not following routines that help her to hit all the health marks, it’s really easy to do. Also, seniors often have a tough time eating alone or cooking for just one person. Those are all factors to consider. Offering reminders about eating and offering to share meals with her can be a huge help.

 

Help Her to Stock Up

Another factor that contributes to an unhealthy diet can be that it’s tough to keep healthier foods on hand. Often they’re foods that are more difficult to prepare and they can have a shorter shelf life. When you or elder care providers are helping your senior to stock up on healthy foods, that’s half the battle. Preparing the foods is another part of the process altogether.

 

Make Some Freezer Meals

You might also consider making meals that your senior can freeze and then reheat when she’s ready to eat. By freezing single-serving containers of healthy meals, your elderly family member is able to have just as much convenience as offered by prepackaged frozen foods. The big benefit besides convenience is also that you’re able to control what’s in the meals.

 

Hire Home Care Providers

Bringing in caregivers can be an excellent way to support your senior in so many of her needs as they change. Home care providers can offer companionship, help with household tasks and personal care tasks, and assist with cooking healthy meals. They can also be part of helping to remind your senior to eat as often as she should be eating.

All of these steps and others that fit your senior’s needs can be part of the process of helping her to eat healthy foods more often. The pieces all fit together and help to ensure that your senior is able to stay as healthy and as strong as possible.

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

 

Senior Care: 6 Ways that Senior Care Makes CHF Easier for Your Family Member

Posted in Congestive Heart Failure, Senior Care |

December 22, 2021

| by
Senior Care in Ozark AL: Congestive Heart Failure

Senior Care: CHF, or congestive heart failure, can be incredibly draining for your senior on a daily basis.

One way to help her to deal with her illness is to make sure that she’s got help from senior care providers. This one change can improve your senior’s quality of life immensely.

 

Companion Home Care in Manhattan NY: Congestive Heart Failure

Companion Home Care in Manhattan NY: Congestive Heart Failure

 

Preparing Meals

Eating the right foods and eating them regularly is very important for someone with congestive heart failure. Senior care at home can assist your senior with this, reminding her to eat and providing healthy options. Having companionship during meals can also be important.

Reminding Her about Medications

Medications can be crucial for someone with CHF, and your senior is no different. Reminders to take her medication as prescribed can be incredibly helpful. Whether they’re new medications or ones your senior has taken for a while, it can still be way too easy to forget them.

Helping with Household Tasks

Conserving energy is often crucial for someone with heart disease. Your elderly family member can rely on home care providers to keep up with those tasks for her so that her home is clean and safe for her. Knowing that’s handled can be a tremendous stress reliever for your senior as well.

Helping with Mobility

Safe mobility is always vital. Your elderly family member doesn’t need to complicate her life by adding fall injuries to her CHF symptoms and daily challenges. If there are ever times that she feels dizzy or unstable, it’s crucial to know that she’s got help when she needs it.

Senior Care: Watching for Symptoms of Trouble

CHF symptoms can worsen very quickly with no notice. Senior care at home can watch for signs of trouble and can help your senior to get the help that she needs right away. That can make all the difference for both you and your senior, especially if you’ve been worried that she might have difficulty and no one there to help.

Senior Care: Offering Companionship

Companionship means so much, especially if it’s difficult for your elderly family member to socialize as much as she used to. Knowing that caregivers are there for her can be a huge weight off your mind. That’s especially true if you and your senior don’t live near each other.

Your senior can live at home safely with congestive heart failure for a long time. It’s a lot easier and less stressful when she has the right assistance such as a senior care provider, there with her.

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