Is It Just a Cold or RSV?

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

February 17, 2021

| by

The common cold looks almost identical to a more serious condition called respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, for short.

RSV starts out with typical cold symptoms, especially runny nose, coughing, phlegm, and a low temperature. But, unlike the cold, RSV can progress to pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and even death. Some scientists are saying that RSV is just as dangerous to people over 65 as influenza is.

 

Home Care in Headland AL: Cold or RSV

Home Care in Headland AL: Cold or RSV

 

Yet seniors can be vaccinated against the flu. So far, there is no vaccine for RSV. And the Centers for Disease Control estimate that fourteen thousand people over 65 die because of RSV every year.

 

A Particular Risk For the Elderly

RSV has long been a health problem for the very young. Doctors test babies for RSV if the cold-like symptoms get worse or persist over many days. Of late, scientists and doctors have agreed that RSV represents a danger for people over 65 as well, especially those who have underlying health issues.

Seniors at high risk for RSV complications are those who have:

  • Asthma
  • Heart disease
  • Lung disease
  • A compromised immune system from an auto-immune disorder or use of immunosuppressants.
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

 

Protect Your Senior From Contagion

You can protect your senior from getting RSV through you, by washing your hands before having contact with your senior, cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces in the senior’s home, staying away from sick people, and avoiding contact with your senior if you are sick. If you bring your children to see your parent, be sure that they are not sick, and it’s a good idea to clean and disinfect their toys if your parent is going to handle them while playing with his grandchildren.

Many people recover on their own from RSV. Over-the-counter medications, like decongestants, antihistamines, and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like aspirin and acetaminophen may alleviate pain and congestion.

 

Treatment

If, however, a senior’s symptoms worsen and he struggles to breathe, he will need to go to the hospital. There, treatments include intravenous fluids to keep the patient hydrated, oxygen and other supportive interventions as needed. Because RSV is a virus, antibiotics are not used in treatment.

A hospital setting is the best way to ensure that RSV does not progress to pneumonia; the hospital is also the best place to treat pneumonia when RSV does progress.

Elder care aides can be very helpful in observing the symptoms of a cold. These elder care professionals will let you know if the symptoms worsen or if your parent’s cold now seems to make it difficult to breathe. If called upon to do so, elder care aides can get your parent to the emergency room for treatment.

In conclusion, RSV is a threat to many elderly people, especially those who already have breathing disorders. However, with early detection and hospitalization, it can be successfully treated. The patient has a good chance of making a full recovery. Make sure someone, like a home care provider, is checking on your parent if he or she is living alone, to make sure he or she is maintaining good health.

 

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.

 

Sources

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/it-bad-cold-or-rsv

https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html

https://www.nfid.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/rsv-report.pdf

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16038573/

Downsizing May Be the Secret to Aging in Place

Posted in Elderly Care in Geneva AL, Home Care Services in Geneva AL |

February 5, 2021

| by

It may come as no surprise that the population of people, age 65 and older, is growing, and will continue to grow. But baby boomers, who are currently entering old age en masse, don’t want to fade away into assisted living facilities.

 

Elderly Care in Geneva AL: Downsizing

Elderly Care in Geneva AL: Downsizing

 

Baby boomers want to age in place. And, if they were previously resistant to the idea of going to a nursing home, the COVID-19 pandemic has solidified that resolution. “Not ending up in that death trap” sums up the feeling of many seniors.

Several writers have noted, however, that the classic two thousand square foot home with a second story and a washing machine in the basement is not the best place to pass your eighties and nineties. And, with medical advancements, there’s a good chance your mom or dad, or both will live that long.

 

Seniors Are Going to Need Help

According to a report from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, seventy percent of people alive today are going to need some kind of long-term care once they have passed the age of sixty-five.

Seniors who go to nursing homes should expect to pay six thousand dollars a month or more for what may or may not be life-enhancing or life-prolonging services.

By contrast, home care for seniors is often much more affordable. Many seniors will need help, but possibly only two hours of help a day, starting out. With home care, seniors can opt for exactly the services they need. Perhaps shopping for groceries and doing lawn care has become difficult. With home care, a senior can pay for only those services until she needs more help than that.

Family members often find themselves helping their parents a few hours a week, with laundry, changing light bulbs, and cleaning, for example. However, adult children of seniors have their own jobs and need to prepare for their own retirements. Ideally, a parent or grandparent does not become a full-time job that hurts you financially.

 

Downsizing Makes Aging in Place More Affordable

If your mother still lives in the three-bedroom, two-bath home in which she raised you and your siblings, it could be a good time to discuss downsizing. You can reduce the amount of help a senior needs and minimize her fall risks by helping her move into a smaller home in a convenient location.

A smaller home is less space to clean, which means less maintenance that has to be provided by family or professionals. Utility bills, taxes, and homeowner’s insurance will all be lower on a smaller house.

Condominiums in buildings with elevators can be a good choice. Smaller, single-family homes with few or no stairs can also make a huge difference in mom’s ability to age in place.

 

Things to look for in a smaller home

In addition to obvious things like stairs and other fall risks, homes that feature the following will make it easier for seniors to age in place:

  • Easy access to parking if your senior still drives a car.
  • Safe, walk-in shower or bath with no stairs or dividers that are going to cause trips and falls.
  • Small, but efficient kitchen with built-in microwave and dishwasher.
  • Vinyl or cork floors. The texture is good for deterring falls.
  • Wheelchair compliant sidewalks and easements if your loved one is in a wheelchair.
  • Good location near family members who are providing care, near groceries, pharmacy, and perhaps a senior center.
  • Minimal yard. Rubber mulch instead of grass will make lawn care less of a headache.
  • Combination washer and dryer.

In conclusion, seniors want to age in place, and their adult children want that for them while also keeping them safe. Downsizing is a compromise that parents and children may be able to achieve with tactful conversations. Many seniors enjoy the benefits of a small, efficient home, and such homes make it easier to help and to afford hired help.

 

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

 

Sources

https://www.forbes.com/

https://aspe.hhs.gov/

https://www.seniorliving.org/

https://www.nytimes.com/

Coping With A Paranoid Parent

Posted in Elderly Care in Enterprise AL, Home Care Services in Enterprise AL |

January 21, 2021

| by

It’s perfectly normal to be mistrustful of some people, some of the time. But what do you do if a beloved parent no longer trusts you? What do you do if he thinks his neighbors of twenty years are trying to poison him?

This sounds like a worst-case scenario, and it is. Unfortunately, a percentage of people over 65 do develop signs of psychosis, which may include delusions and paranoia. And this can occur even if a parent has no history of mental illness.

 

Elderly Care in Enterprise AL: Coping with paranoia

Elderly Care in Enterprise AL: Coping With Paranoia

 

Unfortunately, science understands very little about how or why psychosis can turn up, for the very first time, in someone who is very old. What we do know is that there are definite aggravating circumstances such as:

  • Social isolation. It’s been said before, but social isolation is very dangerous for people over 65. Being too alone for too long can lead to paranoia, psychosis, and dementia.
  • Untreated hearing or vision loss. Being unable to see and hear what people are saying makes older people afraid and vulnerable. This can lead down the path of paranoia and delusions.
  • Brain deterioration, especially in the frontal and temporal brain lobes.

 

Rule out treatable causes

Make sure that it’s paranoia and not the truth. Old people do get taken advantage of in many ways, via mail fraud, telephone sales fraud, door to door sales fraud, etc. Look into the accusation to determine if your parent really did get abused or cheated.

A brain tumor can cause what looks like symptoms of mental illness, so a biological source needs to be ruled out. Similarly, symptoms of psychosis can coincide with Parkinson’s disease. And delusions can even be a side effect of certain medications. Paranoia and delusions are often symptoms of dementia, so an accurate diagnosis is critical.

 

How to cope in the moment

  • Don’t contradict or try to logic them out of it. Delusions do not respond to logic, so trying to prove that a parent is wrong is not the way to go.
  • Play along. This is perhaps the hardest thing for adult children to do. But, yes, at the point that a beloved parent is imagining things, you may have to just lie to them. This means pretending to live in the world of their delusions. Otherwise, they may turn their mistrust on you.
  • Don’t take accusations seriously. If a parent is accusing others of stealing or taking advantage of him, it’s likely that, at some point, he will accuse you of something similar.
  • Empathize with their fear. Say things like, “I’m scared too. Yes, that was very frightening.”
  • Offer to help look for lost items.
  • Create a distraction. Fortunately, it might be fairly easy to say, “Okay, we’ll discuss that later (or we’ll look for your hearing aids later). Would you like to make some hot chocolate?”
  • Ask for help. This might sound like, “I really need your help with something. Could you remind me how to bake a chicken?”
  • Hire home care. Dealing with a delusional and/or paranoid parent is extremely tiring. If at all possible, you must share the load. Hiring home care is the best and most obvious choice for many families. Home care aides have specific training and experience in dealing effectively with paranoid and delusional clients.

In conclusion, parents can become severely paranoid and delusional with little warning. It’s important not to neglect your own care and well being in trying to help them. This may not be a job you can do alone. If you have not hired home care, this would be a great time to consider it.

 

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

 

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

https://www.nia.nih.gov/

https://www.tn-elderlaw.com/

Why Are Falls So Scary for Seniors?

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

January 5, 2021

| by

Falls can be absolutely terrifying for older adults for a great many reasons. Even a “small” fall can change much of your senior’s life as she currently knows it. Doing what you can as her family caregiver to help your elderly family member to avoid a fall is incredibly important.

 

Home Care Services in Abbeville AL: Why Are Falls So Scary

Home Care Services in Abbeville AL: Why Are Falls So Scary

 

Injuries and Long-term Effects of Injuries

Falls are a major cause of injuries in older adults, and often those injuries have long-term impacts. According to the CDC, one out of every five falls causes broken bones or an injury to the head. That can mean that even a seemingly small fall causes your elderly family member to have to spend time in the hospital or worse, have surgery. The recovery time from a fall can take a very long time and that can exacerbate other health issues your senior is already facing.

 

Anxiety and Fear

Whether your elderly family member has fallen already or not, she can have significant anxiety and fear around falling. For many older adults, the fear of falling alone is enough to cause your senior to avoid moving as much as she did in the past. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as your elderly family member loses mobility and muscle tone, ironically making a fall more likely for her.

 

Social Isolation

If your elderly family member becomes fearful enough about her mobility and about falling, she may even start to avoid social interactions. As she spends more time at home, she may find that isolation starts to lead to other issues, like developing depression. Being able to interact with others is important for your elderly family member, so cutting off that contact has serious consequences for her.

 

Losing Independence

Your senior may worry that all of these reasons can cause her to be forced to move from her home or to lose her independence in a variety of ways. If your elderly family member’s main goal as she ages is to continue to do so on her own terms and in her own home, this can be a devastating fear for her. After an injury, your elderly family member may worry that her only option is a nursing home.

Hiring elderly care providers to be there with your senior can alleviate a lot of the fear she has around possibly falling. This can enable her to stay more active, offers her companionship, and shows her that she can still be independent, even with help.

 

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

Visits with Someone Who Has Dementia

Posted in Elder Care in Daleville AL, Elderly Care in Daleville AL |

December 18, 2020

| by

During and after the holidays, you may have a lot on your plate. While things can be good and exciting, you still have to ensure that everyone is all set.

If you have someone in your life that has dementia, you can help to make visits with them easier, as well. Here are some of the tips that can help to improve visits with someone that has dementia.

 

Home Care Dothan AL

Planning Just Enough

One of the things that you need to do is to plan for the holiday visits with your elderly loved one that has dementia. With this being said, you don’t want to make plans too strict. You should sit down and talk to all the family caregivers and senior care providers that your elderly loved one has. Make sure everyone is in agreement about when others can visit. For instance, if your elderly loved one has other family members, friends, or neighbors that like to visit them for the holidays, make a schedule for when these people can come over. Having too many people over at once could overwhelm your elderly loved one. Do your best to make sure that the environment will be calm for your loved one when people are over, too.

 

Maintaining Routines and Staying Calm

Around the holidays, your elderly loved one is likely to become stressed, especially if there is a lot of chaos. For example, people who have dementia don’t usually do well if their day is all over the place. You should work with their senior care providers and other family caregivers to ensure your elderly loved one has routines. Everyone who is involved in their care should help your elderly loved one to follow these routines. If things do happen to fall off the plan or routine, be sure to stay calm. The more upset or frustrated you or others get, the more this will negatively impact your elderly loved one’s holiday.

 

Building On Traditions

Your elderly loved one likely has traditions they cherish. They have memories from past holidays, as well. One of the mistakes that many family caregivers make is assuming that because their loved one with dementia has memory loss, that they can’t remember their traditions. However, there might be things that your elderly loved one remembers. If this is the case, do your best to help keep these traditions alive. In addition, if your elderly loved one wants to tell you things they remember from holidays in the past, let them do this. It might be good for them to reminisce on the good times they can remember.

 

Conclusion

These are some of the ways that you can make holiday visits better for your elderly loved one that has dementia. This disease is difficult enough. You should do everything you can to ensure your elderly loved one can still have great holidays for as long as possible.

 

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

 

Sources

https://www.nia.nih.gov/

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

| by

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 Families and Caregivers Should Know about Hospital Discharge Planning

Posted in Home Care in Daleville AL, Home Health Care in Daleville AL |

November 20, 2020

| by

When a senior loved one is admitted to a hospital after an unexpected illness or injury, their families often feel overwhelmed, confused and uncertain how to proceed. Proper planning and communication with the medical team can make all the difference in how smoothly the transition home goes, and the senior’s recovery. Understanding the basic discharge planning process can make this step less intimidating and more successful.

 

Home Health Care in Daleville AL: Hospital Discharge Planning

Home Health Care in Daleville AL: Hospital Discharge Planning

 

Discharge Planning

Discharge planning is a process, defined by Medicare, to determine what a patient needs to smoothly and successfully transition from the hospital back to their home or to another level of care, such as a rehabilitation facility.

The exact process of discharge planning varies from one hospital to the next, but it generally includes the same key features:

  • Evaluation of the patient’s needs
  • Discussion with the patient or representative
  • Determination of any additional support or caregiver training that may be needed
  • Referral to supportive services, such as home care
  • Arrangements for follow-up appointments
  • Planning transportation or other specific steps to get the person home, or to the next facility

 

Patient, Family and Caregiver Discussion

It’s important to be fully present and attentive during the discussion portion of the planning process. This is easier said than done! The entire hospitalization can be stressful, confusing and overwhelming. It may be hard to imagine what life really will be like upon returning home.

Remember to take your time, take notes, and ask lots of questions. Do your best to communicate your situation as fully as possible during this process. Resist any temptation to overestimate what you can do for your loved one. Only then can the medical team accommodate your actual needs, and set you and your loved one up for the best chance of success.

The discussion will include your loved one’s physical needs, both what they were prior to the hospitalization, and what they are likely to be afterward. Your loved one may need physical therapy or new equipment such as a wheelchair or bedside commode. They may need oxygen or other medical treatments. A good discharge planning discussion will include consideration for who will take care of these needs, but also who will be handling other daily needs, such as transportation, cooking and daily chores.

Family caregivers can easily become overwhelmed and exhausted — both mentally and physically — when they try to handle all the daily needs of the household, their loved one and themselves.

Often, family caregivers are urged to hire assistance so that they don’t become overwhelmed. Overwhelm can lead to a number of poor outcomes, including:

  • Trouble with the caregiver’s own health
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Less than ideal recovery
  • Physical complications
  • Challenges with the patient’s or caregiver’s mental or emotional health

Home care services are a popular choice for support because they offer an array of services customized to each individual families’ needs and preferences. Home care aides can come on a customized schedule and perform tasks including:

  • Laundry, dishes or light housework
  • Meal preparation
  • Transportation
  • Shopping or errands
  • Personal care, such as bathing, dressing and assisting with using the toilet
  • Mobility assistance, such as using a wheelchair, walker or safely moving from one chair to another
  • Companionship

These types of services help family caregivers conserve energy and can assist the senior to experience a smooth and successful recovery in the comfort of their own home.

 

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

 

Sources

https://www.caregiver.org/

Nutrition and Your Senior: How to Ensure They Eat Well

Posted in Homecare in Ozark AL, Senior Care in Ozark AL |

November 5, 2020

| by

Eating a healthy diet is important at any age, but it’s especially important for aging seniors.
In addition to keeping a person’s physical body healthy, eating well also can be one of the best ways to help your aging parent to stay emotionally healthy and keep a positive state-of-mind. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be about making sacrifices and compromises with what your parent loves to eat, it’s more about helping your parent enjoy fresh delicious food, made with wholesome ingredients and doing it with friends and family, making a meal a whole body, mind, and soul experience.

 

Senior Care in Ozark AL: Ensure They Eat Well

Senior Care in Ozark AL: Ensure They Eat Well

Good nutrition sharpens the mind, boosts positive emotions, and can help your senior live longer and better. So, how do you ensure your parent is eating well?

 

1. Go shopping with your parent.

Travel to the grocery store together, helping your parent pick out food that she not only likes but is also good for her health. It’s important to encourage products like fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meats, dairy products, and items high in fiber. So, if your parent loves carrots, encourage her to buy fresh carrots instead of canned carrots. If your parent has never thought about these types of foods, then you going with them to the store can help guide them in the right direction of the best foods they can get.

 

2. Help your parent learn new ways to prepare food.

Maybe it’s time to take that cooking class together? By spending time together, a new task can seem fun and exciting, not daunting, and overwhelming. Even if it’s simply looking at a new way to make different types of salads, helping your parent open previously-closed doors to new food experiences, may give her the needed incentive to try new things.

 

3. Plan family dinners.

The enjoyment of having company can help almost anyone eat better. When planning a family dinner with your senior parent, make sure to have menu items that she’ll not only enjoy but that will be good for her. Associating the pleasure of community with a particular food can make that item seem even more enjoyable. And don’t forget to send leftovers home with your parent so she can easily reheat and enjoy the meal for another time.

 

4. Enlist help.

Whether it’s signing up for a home meal delivery plan, asking the neighbors to bring meals, or hiring a home care professional to come into your parent’s home and prepare a meal or two, it’s important that you don’t try to do it all on your own. There are plenty of services out there willing to step in and help; and most likely, you have friends or family that would also love to help out by providing a weekly meal.

As your senior parent ages, many things may cause stumbling blocks to good nutrition, from budget concerns to reduced appetite and even problems chewing and swallowing. Maintaining an open and non-shaming conversation with your parent about her eating habits will help you both to make needed adjustments that will enrich her life and increase her overall health.

 

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.

Recognizing Personality Changes Related to Dementia

Posted in Elderly Care in Geneva AL, Home Health Care in Geneva AL |

October 22, 2020

| by

Is your elderly loved one acting differently than they normally do? There are a range of health issues that could cause personality changes in the elderly. One of the diseases that could cause these types of changes is dementia. If you concerned that your elderly loved one could have dementia, it is important to learn all you can about the personality changes related to this disease today.

 

Home Health Care in Geneva AL: Recognizing Personality Changes

Home Health Care in Geneva AL: Recognizing Personality Changes

 

Threatening and Aggressive Behaviors

Have you or a senior care provider noticed that your elderly loved one is becoming increasingly threatening or aggressive? Have they screamed at you, their senior care provider, or others in their life? Are they hitting, kicking, or punching someone? Do they throw things? If your elderly loved one is doing any of these things and they have dementia, they might be frustrated, bored, or in pain.

 

Anxiety

Does your elderly loved one seem overly anxious? Have they had an anxiety or panic attack? Do they talk very fast or try to get out of certain situations? If so, and they have dementia, they could be scared or worried about something.

 

Experiencing Apathy

Have you or a senior care provider noticed that your loved one is experiencing apathy? This means that they don’t desire to do a particular thing that they used to do. For instance, is your elderly loved one suddenly uninterested in taking care of their personal hygiene? If so, they could be frustrated, confused, or experiencing another emotion that is causing this disinterest.

 

Delirium, Hallucinations, and Delusions

If your elderly loved one is experiencing delirium, hallucinations, and/or delusions, they might be scared or confused. It is important to do what you can to help them. First, you may want to schedule them an appointment with their doctor, especially if this is new for them. The doctor might prescribe medication to help with these symptoms. There might be other recommendations that the doctor has for your elderly loved one, as well.

 

Conclusion

It is important that you are able to recognize the personality changes that could occur if your elderly loved one has dementia. There are so many things that a person with dementia goes through. As the disease gets worse, your elderly loved one might have even more personality changes. This disease can’t be cured, but you and senior care providers can try to help your loved one feel better in the meantime.

Keep in mind that if your elderly loved one is having severe symptoms, you should speak to their doctor as soon as possible.

 

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

 

Sources

https://memory.ucsf.edu/

 

Internet Safety Tips to Follow After a Breach

Posted in Caregiver in Elba AL, Elderly Care in Elba AL |

October 8, 2020

| by

It seems that every day, there is news about a new breach hitting the media. Some of the earliest involved stores like Home Depot and TJ Maxx. Then, there were huge breaches of Equifax and Marriott. If your parents are in a breach, do they know how to protect themselves against identity theft or to prevent fraudulent transactions? Do you?

 

Elderly Care in Elba AL: Internet Safety Tips to Follow

Elderly Care in Elba AL: Internet Safety Tips to Follow

 

It’s estimated that fraudulent transactions cost older American’s $1.7 billion in 2017. The average loss was more than $34,000. You can’t stop every type of fraud from happening, but you can take preventative measures and know what to do if it happens to your mom or dad.


Run Virus/Malware Scans

Make sure your parents’ computer is set to do automatic scans of their system for viruses, malware, etc. Have virus definitions updated daily. This helps keep them safer on their end, though things can slip through. If there’s a new virus that doesn’t have definitions set up yet, it’s possible.


Use Email Software That Has Strong Spam Filters

Many email programs are now set up with effective spam filters. If spam comes in, it usually goes right to a spam folder. Mistakes will happen, so your parents should check their spam folders and move mail as needed. The software learns what is and isn’t spam this way.

Instead of opening spam emails, your parents can quickly delete them. They should also make sure the settings are set to have to double-click to open an email and not to automatically open attachments.

 

Change Passwords

After learning of a breach or possible hack, change passwords on any site related to that company. If your parents have used that password or a similar version of it on other sites, change those too.

Many virus software suites have password protection as part of the options. They’ll help your parents create strong passwords that are stored with a passcode or PIN within that software so that they don’t have to remember them. They should also write them down in a notebook that’s stored in their safe or a lockbox.

 

Check Their Credit Report

After a breach, they should check their credit report. They want to look for accounts that are not theirs. If they find anything, they should report it to the three credit bureaus and notify the FBI’s fraud division to get a case number.

 

Consider a Credit Freeze

Your parents may want to put a credit freeze in place. They’ll do that online or by phone. If they do want to take out a new loan or open a new credit card, they have to thaw their credit file before the application is processed.

If your parents struggle with daily tasks like organizing mail, handling phone calls, or sorting spam emails from valid ones, it’s time to make sure they have help. Elderly care services help with more than laundry and housekeeping. Caregivers can help your parents as they pay bills, read emails and mail, and answer the phone. Call an elderly care agency to learn more.

 

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

Sources:

https://www.aarp.org/