Tag Archives: senior care

Elder Care at Home

With a rapidly aging population, caring for your elders is likely going to be a big part of your life. According Medicare.com, a recent survey by the National Caregiver Alliance and the AARP Public Policy Institute revealed that approximately “34 million adults in the U.S. are unpaid caregivers to an individual over 50 years old, with 85% providing care for a family member.”

Care giving is a fairly broad term and responsibilities depend on the physical and mental health of an individual but may include anything from helping with everyday activities to medication reminders to hiring and coordinating with assisted living staff. Regardless of the level of involvement, caring for the elderly requires patience.

Every day tasks that we take for granted, such as getting up and getting ready for the day can be challenging as we age. The elderly often need help with daily living activities like bathing or getting dressed. Though these tasks may be time consuming, the physical and emotional benefits of grooming, bathing and putting on clean clothes should not be underestimated to making someone feel more good.

The National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging (NIA) provides several resources and tips for caregivers including:

Communication

  • Be simple, direct and positive when speaking. Clear and upbeat communication is generally a good idea, especially if the person you are caring for has health problems that could affect memory and cognitive skills.
  • Establish eye contact, use the person’s name and if appropriate, touch or hold his or her hand to encourage conversation
  • Ask simple yes-or-no questions rather than open-ended questions. For example, ask “Are you hungry?” instead of, “When would you like to eat?”
  • Limit choices to reduce confusion. For example, ask, “Would you like to wear your jeans or your khakis?” instead of asking, “What do you want to wear?” You might even want to show the options to the person you are caring for to help them make the decision.

Bathing and Dressing

  • Easy wear, easy wash clothing. Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing with elastic waistbands will not only make it easier to get dressed, it will also make it easier to remove clothing to use the bathroom.
  •  Assist in dressing as needed. Let the individual do as much as possible without assistance but be ready to lend a hand. To assistance, lay out the clothes in the order they will be put on. For example, place underwear and socks before pants and shirt.
  • Make the shower safe. Use a sturdy shower chair, grab bars, non-slip bath mats and a hand-held shower-head to reduce the chance of falls.

Eliminate Safety Hazards to Prevent Falls

  • Remove or secure rugs. Try using double-sided adhesive tape to firmly attach any large area rugs.
  • Hide electrical cords. Tuck cords behind furniture, under large rugs or tack to the baseboards so they are out of the way.
  • Create clean lines and open spaces. Remove any extra furniture that would be difficult to maneuver around with a cane, walker or wheelchair.
  • Install handrails and grab bars. Most commonly used along stairways, on the side of the bed, next to the toilet and in the bath or shower.
  • Install good lighting inside and outside home. If the elderly individual has difficulty seeing, install the highest recommended bulb per light fixture. For their safety at night, install nightlights in bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and hallways.

Remember, it is also important to make sure your loved one not only has health food and beverages available but that they are eating regularly. Proper nutrition and hydration can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical and mental abilities.

If the time has come when your aging loved one is no longer able to live independently, please contact the knowledgeable staff at ElderLink to help you find elder care services or an assisted living facility within California that is customized for your family.

Signs It’s Time to Get Help For Your Aging Loved One

Admitting the need for help is difficult at any age and one of the most difficult things to judge is exactly when someone may no longer be able to care for themselves by themselves. This may be especially when that person is your closest loved ones.

But the responsibility often falls on family members to recognize the signs that an aging loved one might need more support with daily living tasks. So how do you know when it is time to get help?

The answer is likely right in front of your eyes – in their appearance and around their house. Not sure what to signs look for? Some common red flags are listed below:

Personal Appearance and Hygiene

  • Difficulty standing up straight, frequently bent over or leaning to one side
  • Sudden weight loss or gain
  • Shuffling when walking rather than stepping
  • Infrequent showering or bathing
  • The smell of urine within the house or on clothing
  • Difficulty with clothing, including using buttons and zippers
  • Trouble getting up from a seated position
  • Difficulty with walking, balance and mobility
  • Unexplained bruising or injuries
  • New or numerous marks or wear on walls, door jams, furniture and other items that may be used to assist with stability and walking throughout the home
  • Mental Status

  • Difficulty keeping track of time, such as sleeping for most of the day
  • Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
  • Changes in mood or extreme mood swings
  • Forgetfulness, such as forgetting to take medications or taking incorrect dosages
  • Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks
  • Consistent use of poor judgment, such as falling for scams or giving away money to sketchy sources
  • Household Chores and Responsibilities

  • Increased clutter or difficulty putting things away the way they used to be
  • Medication is no longer stored properly and may not be taken as prescribed
  • Decreased amount of fresh food and/or increased amount of spoiled food in the refrigerator
  • Dirty laundry pilling up or difficulty using the washer/dryer
  • Piles of unopened mail or overflowing mailbox
  • Unpaid bills, late payment notices, bounced checks or checks written to pay bills but never sent
  • Lack of food in refrigerator and pantries
  • Increased amount of stains on furniture or carpet
  • Decreased maintenance inside and outside home, such as not replacing burned out light bulbs, lawn is not mowed
  • Vehicle and Driving

  • Unexplained dents and scratches on the car
  • Vehicle not properly maintained, such as lapse in registration, large discrepancy between change-oil sticker vs. current mileage
  • Difficulty getting in and out of the vehicle
  • Driving too slowly, decreased reaction time
  • Confusion or forgetting route or destination
  • Trouble parking
  • Lack of confidence driving, especially driving at highway speed and/or at night
  • Care Options
    Even if you see the aforementioned signs, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is required to move your loved one into assisted living or a nursing home. However, these red flags do indicate that more supportive care is needed. The signs should be used as a guide and a starting point in the process of determining whether home care or a higher level of care would be best and to help you make informed and confident decisions.

    Our caring and knowledgeable staff at ElderLink can help you determine exactly the level and what kind of support your loved one needs as well as help you find elder care services providers throughout California.

    Understanding Home Health Care Part II

    In Part One of Understanding Home Health Care, we explained the most common differences between home health and home care. In this second part of the series, we will provide brief summaries of the trained professionals that you may encounter when working with a home health care agency.

    It is important to remember that unlike home care agencies, home health agencies provide services and treatment that are prescribed by a doctor and are usually part of a transition from a hospital stay back into a home environment. Therefore, home health agency fees are usually covered by medical insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

    The type of care provided by health care professional will depend on the needs of each individual and may occur in-home through a home health agency or may occur on an outpatient basis.

    HOME HEALTH AIDES/ASSISTANCE ADLS

    Individuals trained to assist with personal care needs and activities of daily living (ADL). ADL are the essential self-care tasks, such as bathing, ability feed oneself, dressing, toileting, transferring from a bed to a chair, etc. Additional tasks and responsibilities may be assigned to aides depending upon the agreement between the home health aid agency and the family. Home health aide’s assistance may range from a few hours per week up to 24-hour care, either on a temporary or long-term basis.

    SKILLED NURSING

    Skilled nursing refers to the services performed by a licensed Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and these nurses are registered with the State Board of Nursing in their respective state. Skilled Nurses provide medical care as prescribed by physician and may also provide patient assessments, performance of prescribed medical treatments and administration of prescribed medications. Additional services may also include education for the patient and the caregiver to the disease process as well as treatment options, health measures and medication management.

    PHYSICAL THERAPY (PT)

    Physical therapists assess and treat large motor function skills when prescribed by a doctor. Depending upon the needs and mobility of the patient, PT may be conducted on an outpatient or in-home basis. Physical therapists will create a treatment plan with goals and utilize rehabilitative techniques, which may include exercise, gait training, prosthetics and heat to restore the highest functional level of strength, range of motion and mobility based on the individual abilities of the client.

    OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT)

    Often prescribed along with physical therapy (PT), occupational therapists (OT) assess and treat small motor function. Occupational therapists will design a treatment plan designed to increase the client’s ability to carry out their regular day-to-day activities, such as feeding, dressing, grooming and performing household tasks. Using rehabilitative techniques such as exercise, splinting and assistive devices, the OT guides the client through specialized regimes, exercises and activities to increase function, sensory and muscle strength.

    SPEECH THERAPY (ST)

    If an individual has difficulty with speaking or swallowing, a speech therapist will be called in to assess and treats speech and swallowing disorders that may have been caused by a stroke, head injury, laryngectomy, voice disorders or cognitive deficits. Individually designed treatment programs will be created by the speech therapist to maximize communicative effectiveness for the client.

    These are the most common types of agencies to provide in-home or outpatient care. In case of injury, such as a broken hip or knee replacement, in-home care may only be needed for several weeks. Navigating the system of elder care services and agencies can be confusing for anyone. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. Finding the appropriate level of care and caregivers you can trust can take time but it is time well spent.

    If the time has come when your aging loved one is no longer able to live independently, please contact the knowledgeable staff at ElderLink. We will help you find elder care services or an assisted living facility within California that is customized for the requirements of your family.