How did you become a care giver?  Well like so many tasks that we tackle in life we put on our big person pants and get on with it.  There are enormous amounts of joy and laughter involved in being a family care giver as well as being connected to your aging loved one like no one else in the family.  There are special times, shared stories and an opportunity to extract family history that will be passed on to future generations.  But there are times of grief, self pity, frustration, resentment and even anger which can lead to guilt that also have to be considered.  Taking care of family, whether they are nine or ninety, is what we do.  Please make note of the helpful hints I will give you at the end of the article to help you survive in your new role.

Family care givers usually acquire that title through a set of circumstances, events and the every popular family dynamics.  The circumstances could be that you are the only child living close to mom, the event could be that she fell and the family dynamics could be that your brother just has “too much going on in his life” right now to even think about moving back to help.  But we all have choices in life and your decision could be that you have chosen to take care of mom.  Not out of guilt but out of desire.  Once you have made that choice then that is where the excitement begins.  When someone attacks a family predicament with passion and creativity then the outcome will be better for all concerned.

When you think of someone in need of a home care provider most likely you think of the elderly.  In fact there are over fifty million Americans who have difficulty in performing the activities of daily living due to age, illness or a physical disability.  And with over ten million of those folks age is not an issue, it is illness or a physical disability.  For everyone receiving care I would bet that there are at least two others providing it.

We are living longer.  Someone born in 1945 could expect to live until they were 66.  Someone born in 2015 will have a life expectancy of 79 years.  We are living longer but sometimes it’s not all that great.  As director of a home care agency I have to opportunity to sit and chat with many of our senior clients.  We provide home care for one of our clients in Phoenix who will be 90 in a couple of months.  She has medical issues, vision and hearing issues but the one thing she complains about the most is fatigue.  During one chat she scrunched up her face in anger and said:  “Why can’t they find out what is wrong?  With all the doctors I am seeing why can’t they get it right?”  She is currently taking sixteen different medications.

Care giving is a job.  It’s might not be a job that you applied but now that you have it you are looking for some guidance.  If you have children then that was a conscious decision you made to bring children into the world and that you would be their care giver.  Now men, don’t get mad at me but statistically speaking family care givers are female.  In fact over 65% of family care givers are female.  If both your parents are living then the family caregiver is the usually the spouse.  In over 70% of elderly men it is the spouse who provides care but that drops to 33% if the wife needs the care.

Think of the jobs you do when you are a mom, that is besides your paying job out of the home.  Now these are the additional jobs you take on as a family care giver.

• Accountant and money manager.  At the very least you will be making sure the bills are paid so the heat doesn’t get shut off in the winter.  But most likely you will be paying bills, transferring funds from savings to checking and making sure things don’t go into default.
• Medical adviser.  Doing internet searches to make sure that the new supplement she is taking isn’t conflicting with the blood pressure medication.
• House keeper.  Getting the crud off the stove because while mom was an excellent house keeper back in the day, she just can’t see the splatters of spaghetti sauce that has crusted over.
• Personal hygiene assistant.  At the very least doing standby duty while she showers or bathes.
• Cook.  While she can still operate the microwave a nice homemade casserole is always a treat.
• Driver.  Many, many doctors appointments, lab tests and then there is grocery shopping, pharmacies, etc.

These are just some of your new duties that you will take on along with responsibilities to your family and your job.  Have you heard of the “Sandwich Generation” well you’re it.  Sandwiched between your children and your parents.

But don’t fret there are other family members to help right?  In a perfect world all will be there to help.  We had a client who had terminal cancer with really only a short time left.  We provided overnight home care for him in Peoria, AZ; his wife had passed on several years earlier and he now lived alone.  He had three children who were now in their sixties who lived not to far away.  Hospice of the Valley visited often providing palliative care.  His children would rotate during the day to provide care and we provided care givers for the overnight hours until one of the children arrived the next morning.  He was covered with loving care 24/7 and passed in his sleep one night.  In this situation the family care givers through many family meetings divided up the duties and also brought in professional help so that they could still spend quality time with their dad until the end.

We have another client who lives in an independent living facility here in Glendale, Arizona that we provide about twelve hours of home care a week.  She also has three children in their sixties; one in Portland, one in Oklahoma and one here in Phoenix.  The one in Portland supplies no support or help whatsoever, the one in Oklahoma calls mom once a week and the one here is dealing with insurance, prescription issues, trying to keep mom from spending too much money and doing supplemental grocery shopping to fill in what our care giver does.

So with all this new info to chew on, what’s next?  How about a mini-survival guide?

Survival Guide for the Family Home Care Provider

• Get other family members involved.  If you have siblings I am sure that you have learned over the years what buttons to push to give them a jab.  This is not the time for that.  Lay it out as a a project that effects the extended family and ask them specifically what they can do to help.  Many times when you ask for help you have a task that you need done and they will come up to that mark but no further.  If you have clearly defined areas of involvement and ask them what they can do, you might be surprised that they will exceed your needs.  If they are too far away to physically help then maybe they could send a couple of hundred dollars a month your way to buy some respite care from a local home care agency.
• Use mom’s social network.  Does she still have friends and neighbors that are active?  Maybe one of them could do some grocery shopping once a week or take her to get her hair done.
• Use available resources.  Do an internet search for local agencies like the Area Agency on Aging, Alzheimer’s Foundation, etc.  Also look into church organizations that might have a volunteer group to help with the elderly.  There are hundreds of on line communities (some of which I write posts for) that offer Q&A help from their members.  You are not alone in this, there are many others that have the same problems and can offer advice.
• Get some time off.  Remember this is a job and you need a vacation.  Even if it is only a long week end there are many home care agencies who can supply you with experienced care givers to give you needed respite.
• Make a schedule and stick to it.  If mom calls and says she is out of mayo, you don’t have to run over there on your lunch hour to get it for her.  Tell her to add it to the grocery list and you will pick it up on the normal shopping day.  Once you start doing this she will understand that there is a structure and will comply with it.
• Prepare for the future.  If mom only needs a little help now and then use this time to look at what the future looks like.  Have you found a qualified home care agency when and if 24/7 care is needed?  Have you contacted Hospice to see what services they offer and when it would be appropriate for them to enter the family of care givers.

You are a family care giver but you should think of yourself as the primary care giver not the only care giver.  Allow others to help.  If you develop a mindset that it is easier for you to do it yourself you will become grumpy and resentful and that is no way to remember mom’s last years.

The Care and Feeding of a Home Care Provider is a post from: Home Care in Arizona

By Teresa Simpson

At age 26, I was a busy, happy, stay at home mom; caring for Michael and our two sons on the sunny beach in Oxnard, CA when it became necessary for us to bring Michael’s beloved 91 year old grandmother into our home to live.  It was one of those “best of times and worst of times” type of experiences, and it gave me a clear picture of how difficult it is for today’s “sandwich generation” to be caring for both their children and their aging parents.

Some years later my mother had to move our precious “Baba” (her mother) out of her home and into a nursing home because there was no other way of caring for her.  I know the guilt my mother suffered; and still does to this day because she was not able to care for my grandmother by taking her in or letting her stay in her own home.  There just wasn’t a “Visiting Angel” to call for help.”

Today I know these experiences are what have given me the passion for what I do.  As Director/Owner of my own Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services franchise I am able to offer viable alternatives for the assisted living or nursing home experience; allowing seniors to stay in their own homes or in the home of a loved one, by providing caring and compassionate caregivers who assist in the daily activities of life.

It is such a rewarding and satisfying ministry that gives purpose to my personal experiences.  I knew this was the perfect career path for me but I must admit I never dreamed I would love it this much.  Every day is an opportunity to make someone’s day a little easier.  I’ve had adult children call me in tears because they think their experience with caring for their loved one is unusual.  They feel alone with their feelings of guilt, frustration and helplessness.  Being able to offer a way to relieve some of the stress they are experiencing by placing one of my Angel Caregivers, giving a referral for other types of assistance or just lending an ear and a word of encouragement is a blessing.  This is a special opportunity to me, and so much more than a business; I know I am making a difference.

What’s so special about the Senior Care business? is a post from: Home Care in Arizona

Have you heard about  Angel Rides.

If your weeks are filled with trips to doctor appointments, grocery shopping and running errands for your loved one this service may be right up your alley.   In talking to prospective clients we have learned that many do not yet require the full use of the services we offer such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, hygiene assistance and so on.  However they could use transportation to and from doctor’s appointments, the beauty salon and the grocery store.

When we reach the age that we no longer feel safe driving or have relinquished our driver’s license it creates challenges that sometimes aren’t addressed until it becomes a huge problem.  The first solution is usually having a family member, a neighbor or a friend take on this task.  And may work in the short term but can become a source of contention when schedules conflict.

Using a “dial-a-ride” type service or a taxi presents its own problems.  These services will mostly drop their client at the front door and drive off which is fine for those without mobility, vision or memory problems.   However, for those with one or more of these challenges it can be an accident or tragedy waiting to happen.

With Angel Rides, we pick you up at a time convenient to you, drive you to the appointment, assist you into the building and stay with you for the entire time.  Many times appointments and errands are grouped together to provide a nice outing.  Once you are home we assist you safely in, making sure their is nothing else we can do for you.

This service has really struck a chord with children who do long distance care give as we can e-mail them with an update as to what was done and the general appearance of their loved one.

For more information on Angel Rides please contact us at 623-266-9304 or email at visitingangelsaz@gmail.com

Angel Rides is a post from: Home Care in Arizona

Safety issues are always a concern in the home of a senior, whether they require home care or not.  Being concerned with safety in your parent’s home is like being a detective.  If you see mom almost trip over a throw rug then you will either tack that rug down or immediately remove it.  It’s the less obvious areas that can rise up and bite us.  If there is a small, raised transition from the carpet to the tile that she has not had a problem navigating but might have a problem with in the future then this is something you need to take care of before the trip and fall.  By being proactive, you will gain great piece of mind.  So here are some areas which you should take a look at.

Design-Remodel-Move

There are a few options available to you if your aging parents are still in their two story home that you grew up in.  This area needs to be approached with caution, love and understanding.

• Option #1: Selling the family homestead and move them to a single story house.  Good idea but in this real estate market it could be problematic to get that done.  Have you spoken to the folks about moving?  Did they respond with joy and laughter and applause?  You might want to read Seven Reasons Why Seniors Want to Stay Home first for some hints on how they feel about moving.

• Option #2: Move their living quarters downstairs.  If the house is a large family home then most likely they will have a den or a formal living room down stairs which could easily be adapted to their bedroom.  However, most downstairs baths are just a powder room so some remodeling might be necessary.

• Option #3: Install a stair lift.  These stair lifts are easily installed and provide complete safety for your parents.  One thing to be certain of is that the lift will run on battery power if there is an electrical outage in the home.  If you are not mechanically inclined then you might want to have someone else install it.

The Bathroom

You take water and tile and mix in poor balance and eyesight and you have an area primed for falls.

• Stepping into a tub is not a good idea for an elderly person so the first thing to look at is replacing the tub.  Whether you look at one of those step in tubs or a shower that is a step in you will increase your safety quotient considerably.  If the unit you chose doesn’t have a molded in seat then use a stand alone shower chair.  The elderly like to sit and use the hand wand when showering.

• Also look at strategically placed grab bars.  The ones that suction onto the wall have gotten better but I don’t know if I would totally trust them.  If you are refitting the tub then now would be the time to install 2×4 blocking in the wall that the grab bars could be screwed into.

• All faucets should be the lever type and not the knob.  The elderly usually have lost gripping strength and have arthritis as well and cannot grip the faucet hard enough to turn it off.  By doing this you will reduce the risk of serious scalding accidents.

• You should either replace the toilet with a handicapped height one or you can get one of these raised toilet seats.  Either place a grab bar within reach of someone on the toilet or you can get a frame that sits over the toilet which allows the person to use some arm muscles instead of weak leg and hip muscles.

• If the bathroom has dual vanities then look at converting one of them to wheel chair access.  And don’t forget to widen the door to at least 36” again for wheel chair and walker access.

• If possible convert the doorways to pocket doors; this will gain you a lot of interior space.

The Kitchen

So many dangers here and you should look at safety in the kitchen for your parent as your parent looked at safety in the kitchen when you were little.

• Don’t put anything heavy or bulky in overhead cabinets or consider installing a pull down shelving system.  Imagine just as they are sliding a pot onto an upper shelf their strength gives out and the pot comes crashing down.

• If the stove has burner controls on the back panel replace the stove.  You don’t want mom reaching over a boiling pot to turn down the burner.

• Here is a no brainer:  no towels hanging over or close to the stove.

• To go along with the above tip make sure there is a working fire extinguisher with in reach.

• The elderly reach a point where they no longer really cook they just nuke.  You really don’t need all the bells and whistles just just a microwave that will defrost, cook and reheat.  Think simplicity here and make sure the numbers are large and readable.  Another tip, don’t use the above stove model get one for the counter and the reasons should be obvious.

• As in the bathroom all faucets should be lever type.

Other Rooms

Take a stroll through all the rooms that are used and if a room is not used then close it off.

• Doors should be refitted to the lever type of handle for the same reason that faucets are lever type.

• Look for any throw rugs and get rid of them.

• Try not to use extension cords at all but if they must be used make sure that they are covered with something like a cord duct so they will not pose a trip hazard.

• Look at direction of travel and pathways.  If the path from the couch to the kitchen or bathroom has a table and chairs encroaching into the path then rearrange the furniture so that the path is straight.  If mom bumps into a table this could just be enough to cause a fall.

• In the laundry room use a lower cabinet for the cleaning items instead of the cabinets over the washer dryer.

Lighting

Every room that mom goes into or through should be inspected for sufficient lighting.  Please keep in mind that sufficient light for you may not be enough for mom.  There should be general lighting as well as task lighting.

• Every room that has two entrances should have a three way light switch installed at each entrance.  You could try motion sensor lighting but it has been my experience that a person is halfway into the room before the light comes on.  There are inexpensive solutions for adding light switches without an electrician.

• Lighting in the kitchen should be of both the general and task and again have enough wattage so that mom can see oven/microwave controls and read instructions on boxes.

• Use plug in night lights in bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways and any other location where mom might travel after dark.  They have night lights that are flat against the wall and only come on after dark but provide enough illumination to see if there is an obstacle in the way.

Garage

• If mom is still driving then you should inspect her car for any new dents, scratches or paint marks.  This could indicate that she is loosing depth perception and possible loss of peripheral vision.  It may be time to have a talk with her about surrendering the car keys.  But you better have a plan as to how to approach this sensitive issue and what solutions you have in mind.

• Make sure there is ample room for the car as well as for her getting into and out of the car.  This might mean getting rid of some stuff in the garage or you could organize with some garage shelving.

• If there is a power outage then the garage door opener won’t operate.  Rig a light weight rope with a handle to the existing overhead door and string it to the side of the garage out of the way.  Then see if mom is capable of releasing the door and raising it.  You might have to get a garage door technician out there to adjust the spring tension on the doors.

• I have seen many senior’s cars where the trunk and the back bumper are damaged from the garage door hitting it.  One solution is to place the car in the garage where it should be and suspend a tennis ball from the ceiling to where it makes contact with the windshield in front of the driver.  This however takes the focus off of where the car is going to the tennis ball.  There are parking blocks that you might try so that mom drives slowly into the garage and feels the block.  If she drives over this then you need to have that talk about the keys.

Exterior

You need to continually be inspecting pathways around the house for trip hazards.  Vines that have grown across a path, a flagstone path that was once fine but now is uneven or even a hose that has been left out can be dangerous to the person who has limited visual acuity.

• If mom can still do a few stairs make sure a sturdy railing is there for support.  If not then a ramp should be installed.  Consult with your local chapter of the ADA for guidelines.

• Install a security type screen door on the front door so that she can still be secure when opening the door to strangers.

• Sliding doors out to the patio should have a zero threshold.  This will prevent tripping now and accommodate a walker, wheelchair or scooter later.  This can be accomplished by the installation of a small ramp.

Personal

• Telephone communications are important to mom, whether it is calling out or receiving calls from family.  There are inexpensive phone systems available that have multiple cordless hand sets.  If you have enough of these in the rooms that she lives in including the bathroom then the phone will be no more then a few steps away when it rings.

• Have a talk with mom about not responding to telephone solicitations for money and not to open the security door to someone she does not know.

• There are personal alarm systems that contact emergency services when a button is pressed.  This can be a pendant or a wrist type device.  Some of these systems can be expensive and have a monthly subscription fee as well.  One that we have experience with is the Guardian Alert system which has no monthly subscription and it can be programmed to call a family member, a neighbor or 911 in any order or just 911.  Mom can talk directly to the person on the other side through the device she is wearing.  It’s pretty cool.

This list seems like a lot but as you begin to check things off you will find that you are becoming more confident that mom is safe in the home that she wants to stay in.

Can you think of anything I missed?  Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Simple Senior Safety is a post from: Home Care in Arizona

Warning Signs for Aging Parents

Whether your parent lives with you, lives down the street or lives 3,ooo miles away you are always concerned that they are receiving the best home care and that they are safe in their home.  As a family care giver there are many options available to you but as with all decisions that impact the family; careful exploration of the alternatives is critical.

This is another video in our on going series titled “Senior Minutes”.  These are designed to help family care givers deal with the many issues of aging such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, mobility and independence.

Here are three warning signs that you should be aware of when spending time with your aging parents.  It is time to put on your detective hat and do a little observation and honest evaluation of your loved one’s capabilities and limitations.  There are many signs that you should be aware but this is a start and you will come up with your own indications as well. Mobility and balance cannot be emphasized enough.  If your loved one looses their balance but a fall it averted it will still shake their confidence and they will tend to be even more sedentary.  A more sedentary lifestyle will lead to muscle atrophy and loss of strength.

If a fall happens then more likely something will break and that will mean a hospital visit and probably an extended stay and weeks of rehab.  This again will cause more loss of confidence and encourage a more sedentary lifestyle.  Many times a home care solution is not looked at soon enough and if quality care givers are provided and assist in the activities of daily living then some of the above problems might be avoided or at least postponed.

Please sign up for our newsletter and receive a special report on care giving that is crammed full with tips you can use.

This “Senior Minute” was brought to by:

Visiting Angels Northwest Valley

Providing quality and affordable home care to:
Peoria • Surprise • Glendale
and the Northwest Phoenix Area

Senior Minute – Episode #2 is a post from: Home Care in Arizona

It seems like we are always looking for the magic key that will grant us wisdom in a certain area and home care is no different.  It could be “Five Tips for Weight Loss” where if we read the tips and agree (I didn’t say do them only agree) then tomorrow the scale will show that our weight is headed down.  I like bullet-point lists too so here are  three tell-tale signs that your aging parent might have some health issues.

If you are a family caregiver and your aging parent is living with you or you see them every day then these changes might be hard to identify because they are gradual.  However if you see then only occasionally then any change will be more dramatic and you might want to get assistance from a home care agency.

• Are your aging parents moody?  Everyone is capable of being in a bad mood now and then but it could also be a sign of depression, especially if it is ongoing.  You might keep track of their activities.  Are they still maintaining their social network of friends?  Are they still showing interest in their hobbies?  Any withdrawal from other human contact should be noted.

• How is their mobility and their balance?  Can they still get around the grocery store the way that they used to?  Are they holding onto furniture as they walk through the house?  Aging will take its toll on muscle strength and endurance so start mentioning a walker early on.  We have a client who bounces off the walls walking down her hallway but mention a walker and you will have a fight on your hands.  Using a walker is one of those milestones, like not driving anymore, that folks just don’t want to cross.  Sometimes if you explain to them that if they fell more then likely something would break and that could mean a protracted hospital stay.

• Can they take care of themselves?  In the medical world this is called Activities of Daily Living or ADL.  Areas of personal hygiene like bathing, hair washing and tooth brushing if ignored could be early signs of dementia.  If they experience weight loss then they could be having difficulty cooking or maybe their eye sight has changed so they cannot read label directions or see the panel on the microwave.

These issues and many more should be brought to the attention of your parent’s primary physician, there might be some tweaking of the meds needed or maybe an eye exam.  Above all be loving, compassionate and understanding when with your aging parent.  But also be observant as to how they are doing and be a detective always looking for clues that might indicate future medical problems.

Three Tips on Possible Future Senior Health Problems is a post from: Home Care in Arizona

It happens in Peoria, AZ, it happens in Glendale and Surprise Arizona too.  In fact it happens all over the nation and at some point in time it happens to you.  I don’t think it comes to us as an epiphany but in retrospect we see when it began and of course know where it is now.  I am talking about the journey when seniors and parents make the transition into aging loved ones and might need home care or at least companion care.

When adults reach their senior years, they at first joke about it and brag that they got the senior discount at Denny’s but as the years roll on the jokes stop and they realize that some major changes have taken place in their financial, physical and social worlds.  Their view of their finances have changed from buying mostly what they wanted to now they are on a fixed income and watch carefully their expenses.

The physical world of the aging has gone from playing football with the kids to watching football from the recliner and their social network of friends has greatly diminished due to illness, death and people just not able to get out.  They now have vision, hearing and mobility issues and most of their conversations with others revolve around medical issues. And after they retire a large chunk of their self esteem is surgically removed.  Men more then women are defined by their job, it is what they do, it is who they are and when introduced to someone new it is only a matter of seconds before they announce that they are the general manager for Ajax Construction.

The children of aging parents will also experience a role reversal and the children might have to take over handling financial issues for the parent as well as driving them to various appointments.  This can be not only uncomfortable for both parties but the adult children’s anxiety level will raise when they realize how vulnerable their parents have become.  But this vulnerability does not mean an immediate move to a higher care facility.  Seniors want to maintain their independence and this sometimes is in direct conflict with the adult children who want their parent to be safe and secure.

Adult children can do several things to help in this transition.  Remember senior living is not a death sentence.

• Decisions – Don’t leave the senior out of the decision making process.  Have family meetings to discuss issues such as getting a caregiver to come in for a few hours a week.  Some of our clients lives revolve around food because that is the only area of their life that they feel they have any control over.  Keep them engaged in the family.
• Fill their time – Not with mind numbing television but if they are physically and mentally active learning a new hobby then this slows the aging process and can keep their cognitive skills from deteriorating. Seniors are seniors and they are not stupid and they are capable of learning a musical instrument or computer games.
• Spiritual growth – Now might be the time for them to explore a new religion or rediscover an old one.  Many medium to larger churches, synagogues, and mosques have senior programs that include exercise, teaching on religious issues and companionship.  Here again if the adult children cannot provide transportation there are many home care agencies who could take care of it.

Our seniors are truly a national resource and have many grand life stories to tell if only someone would stop and listen.  Adult children have unbelievably busy lives but if they can only slow down a little and assist their parents with this transition then it will be more fulfilling for all concerned.

Here are some additional resources which will help you help your parent in this transition.  Each one explores different aspects of this process.

• How to Care for Aging Parents (Morris, How to Care for Aging)
• Coping With Your Difficult Older Parent : A Guide for Stressed-Out Children
• They’re Your Parents, Too!: How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy

Help Parents Transition to Becoming Elderly is a post from: Home Care in Arizona

Home Care in Arizona is producing a series of short videos entitled “Senior Minutes”.  These videos will be aimed at those who are personally involved with providing home care for an aging parent or loved one.

We will explore all the issues that family home care givers are dealing with including safety, dealing with dementia, medical issues, mobility, driving concerns and many others.

Here is our first video.
This episode of “Senior Minute” is target at Family Home Care Providers.  What is a “Family Home Care Provider”?  If you are taking care of an elderly parent, relative or loved one, then YOU are your families home care provider or caregiver.

In this episode we you three tips on being the  family caregiver:

1. Accept the offer of help. – If family or friends are offering to help you with the care giving of your loved one do not hesitate to except that help but have a specific job in mind for them.
2. Seeking Advice – There is so much information available on the internet these days.  Do an internet search for such terms as “home care” or “senior care giving” or “tips for family care givers”.  Make sure to bookmark the sites you find with reliable information.  We also suggest you sign up for our newsletter as each month we send out valuable information.
3. Take Time Off For Yourself – Care giving is a job.  Everyone needs a vacation from their jobs now and then.  Take the time to recharge your batteries.  If you don’t have anyone in your life to step in and pick up the slack while you are gone then consider getting help from a home care agency.

Please enjoy the first episode of “Senior Minute”.

We home you have enjoyed this episode of “Senior Minute”.  We look forward to bringing you more quality information on home care and home care services in Arizona.  If you have any comments or suggestions for future episodes please leave them in the comments area below.

This “Senior Minute” was brought to by:

Visiting Angels Northwest Valley

Providing quality and affordable home care to:
Peoria • Surprise • Glendale
and the Northwest Phoenix Area

Senior Minute – Episode #1 is a post from: Home Care in Arizona

I think that, as a group, seniors are some of the most surveyed folks out there.  Being in the senior home care business in the Phoenix, AZ area I am more acutely aware of the surveys then the normal person and like to see how the results of those surveys match up to my personal experiences.

More times then not the results do not go beyond the numbers to the underlying cause and effect or at least the feelings of those being surveyed.  In a recent survey it was reported that over 80% of seniors would rather live out the rest of their days in the own home and not in an assisted living or independent living facility.  For me, that’s really not breaking news but it started me thinking about why the seniors are so motivated to stay in their home.

I started doing some research by going over my notes from prospective home care client families, care recipients and also our wonderful care givers in our service area of Arizona.  So I have come up with seven reasons why seniors want to stay in their home.  These seven do not have real defined borders and have branches or even roots in other reasons.

1. Comfort.  This reason really bleeds over into the others as well but the senior is comfortable in the house where they have lived for many years.  The TV is just the right distance from their chair and doesn’t have any reflections on it, they know the HVAC system and where it needs to be for comfort, they have spent years getting the furniture the right size and in the right place.  So why should they leave.
2. Safety.  Now at first glance this might be a reason for going into assisted living but most seniors feel safer at home.  They know the sounds of the neighborhood, when neighbors come home and when they leave and most can move around their house and even their yard blindfolded.  We have a 94 year old client who is almost totally blind and lives by herself but she knows where everything in her house is, even her meds.  She has her morning meds in one location and the bottles are arranged in a specific way and the evening meds are in another location.  She feels safe in her environment.
3. Memories.  They have experienced the entire fabric of life in their home.  Birthdays, holidays, including dry turkeys, disappointments and celebrations, medical issues, retirement, aging and death.  The home has been the foundation of all that has gone on and they don’t want to walk away.
4. Independence.  From pre-teen years we all strive to achieve independence and now that the senior has had it for so many years they guard it with all the vigor they can muster.  If the car keys were taken from the senior earlier then this is the last vestige of independence.  Note to family: rescinded driving privileges will be the biggest fight but the home is second.
5. Cost.  Assisted living expenses can run as much as $4,000 plus a month so staying in one’s home can be quite a savings.  Add to that the possibility of a reverse mortgage and their monthly bills can be reduced but things like a gardener, pest control, etc have to be managed.
6. Network.  This term might be used with younger folks but even my 94 year old client has a network…a social network of neighbors and friends who check on her and bring her treats.  Many times these social networks are shattered when the senior moves to assisted living.  My mother-in-law who lives with us still talks about neighbors she had ten years ago.  Don’t discount these social connections.
7. Family.  Many times the family home is just that and there are extra bedrooms for visiting family members.  Children of the senior can visit and bring their kids and now you have three generations staying connected in a home environment, not just visiting grandma at an assisted living facility.

Back in the day there were only two choices for home care for seniors and that was stay in their home or live with the children.  Now there are so many more choices up to and including resort like living where you eat all your meals in a nice restaurant environment.  The choice we made was to have my mother-in-law live with us, it just made sense and we felt better about it.  But the transition wasn’t easy, especially for mom.  But over the years she has settled in and knows exactly how many steps it is from her room to the bathroom.

It is important to hold family meetings with the senior included to discuss how it will work and if additional in home help will be needed for a portion of the day.  In home care can make everyone more at ease if it is decided that the senior will be allowed to stay in their home.

Seven Reasons Why Seniors Want to Stay Home is a post from: Home Care in Arizona

For our caregivers in Peoria, Glendale and Phoenix Arizona it is no surprise that it’s hot, after all we are in the Valley of the Sun.  But as our caregivers are providing affordable in home care for seniors not all that care is always in the home.

Many times our caregivers take clients to doctor’s appointments, church functions or just shopping and when we are out of the home and in possibly unfamiliar surroundings we always remind our caregivers to be mindful of environmental conditions that might lead to a heat related event that could cause a fall.

This is a short list of what our caregivers remind our clients of prior to a summertime excursion:

• Drink plenty of water prior to the outing.
• Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin, at least SPF 50 or higher.
• Wear a broad brim hat and loose, light colored clothing.
• Limit the time you are in direct sunlight.
• Try not to be out in the hottest part of the day.
• When walking to the car, don’t touch it…IT’S HOT!

Some of the signs for heat exhaustion are:

• Increased sweating
• Quick onset of headaches.
• Rapid and shallow breathing
• Flushed face and moist skin

It’s best to treat for heat exhaustion by cooling the body slowly, getting into a cooler environment and wrap a cool wet towel around the neck.

Some signs of heat stroke are:

• Altered mental status and confusion
• Very hot skin
• Nausea
• Very rapid and shallow breathing

Treatment for heat stroke will be to remove the person to a cooler environment and use ice packs wrapped in a cloth and place them around the neck , ankles and wrists.  It is important to note that heat stroke is a serious medical emergency and the caregiver should call 911 if a heat stroke is suspected.  It also should be mentioned that for non-medical personnel the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke could be unrecognizable and that a call to 911 should be placed.

Heat related events don’t always occur outside.  Our elders don’t feel the heat and cold the way younger folks do and many times they will not turn on the AC trying to save on utility expenses.  Then they become overheated and under hydrated which could lead to dizziness and a fall.

It is important to keep an eye on our loved ones during the summer.  Just a short phone call can give the family caregiver peace of mind and the senior a feeling of still be connected to the world.

Summer Sizzles for Seniors Too. is a post from: Home Care in Arizona