Articles & Resources

Safety Tips for Transferring Clients into Car

Jul 20, 2023

Safety Tips for Transferring Clients into Car

Preparing the Car

Preparing the car for your loved one to get inside is fairly easy but quite important. All you have to do is get the car as close as possible to your loved one to reduce the steps they have to take.

Once you make sure of that, drag the seat as far back as it can go to give more room for your loved one to move in.

The last step of preparing the car is optional but helpful. Place a plastic bag on the seat to minimize friction and allow for easier movement on the seat.

Preparing Yourself and the Loved One

Preparing yourself means getting everything ready before transferring your loved one to the car. Wallets, keys, bags, and everything you need should be already inside the car before you help your loved one in.

One item that could make your life a lot easier is the gait belt. It’s a belt used to assist elderly people in safely getting on their feet without grabbing their arms or hurting them. This belt is especially...

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Modern Technology Can Be Overwhelming

Jul 19, 2023

Modern Technology Can Be Overwhelming

 

Let’s talk about how our world has changed and how it has affected our seniors.  The days are long gone where we go buy something at the store and just pay for our purchases.  Even paying for groceries becomes overwhelming with the amount of steps and the process involved with using any kind of card and completing the eighteen questions asked on the machine.   What people need to understand is, we all need a little bit of compassion and understanding with all the processes that are expected to be completed.  The actual personnel in customer service need to be able to listen to what is being communicated to them, and be kind enough to provide the assistance that may be required  to complete a task.  Senior citizens want to remain independent as long as possible, which means going to the doctor themselves,  doing their own shopping and banking.  What is needed on the other end is kindness,...

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MENTAL ILLNESS AND GUN SAFETY

Sep 22, 2022

I am sure the issue of safety of seniors at home is always a concern.   Modern day social media allows an open platform to discuss mental health issues in this country.  People are more aware of the tragic events that take place on a frequent basis.  Caregivers  need to be diligent in dealing  with the mental health issues of our loved ones as much as the physical health issues they experience.   I can assure you that this will take effort and regularly on your part.  Be sure to frequently talk to your seniors about life.  It will take a consistent conversation to pick up any changes with them.  Sometimes an untreated depression can lead to tragic results.  If the conversation at all sounds hopeless or dark you must intervene and get them to see their doctor right away.  

 

Depression in the elderly has many signs and symptoms.  Seclusion, no appetite, not wanting to perform the tasks they usually do during the...

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Helping Anxiety With Alzheimer’s Disease

Sep 22, 2022

Alzheimer’s disease has many stages.  The first being the forgetful stage. 

This stage is sometimes playful.  Many jokes are made in an effort to help cover the periods of forgetfulness,  and the people around you can actually make it less stressful by engaging in conversation.  The words being spoken give comfort, and being silly helps the anxiety.  At this point you hope this is an occasional not permanent lapse in cognition.  In this stage you rely on others to finish your sentences, or by following others with daily tasks but you are still able to perform ADL’s the way you always have with an occasional set back here and there.  Your personality remains the same, so you can still have fun and enjoy your life.

 

I believe that the middle stage is definitely the hardest for you and for those around you.  In this stage there is a tremendous increase in anxiety.  This anxiety occurs because you lose the ability to...

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What Medical Equipment is Covered by Medicare

Sep 22, 2022

You all may have heard the term DME when your loved one is leaving the hospital or rehabilitation facility. The letters DME is an abbreviation for Durable Medical Equipment.   There are all different kinds of equipment that you may need now as a result of an injury or acute diagnosis which is causing a decrease in mobility or decreased independence of performing activities of daily living.  The equipment is ordered either temporarily for an injury to assist you, or as diseases progress to provide the necessary safety in the home.  Some examples of equipment that may be needed could be a hospital bed, transfer bench, shower chair, commode, wheelchair and even oxygen.

 

As long as the DME is medically necessary with a prescription from your physician,  Medicare will pay for the equipment.  So with that being said you don’t need to be leaving a hospital or a rehabilitation facility to get this durable medical equipment.  If you are being...

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Covid Through The Eyes Of A Senior

Sep 22, 2022

 The uncertain times we live in is frightening for all of us but the isolation which was necessary during the midst of covid has been devastating to the senior population.

 

     First let’s look at the seniors who live alone but are somewhat independent with their needs and continue with the ability to drive a vehicle.  Covid comes to town and they are told that life as they know it is shutting down.  What they experience is total isolation from others.  No chats at the grocery store,  or the pharmacist at the local drug store when going to pick up a prescription.  They can’t just jump in the car and go to visit family or their friends.  The only thing left is to watch the television which is absolutely horrifying due to the constant talk of the pandemic accompanied by massive loss of life.  It is really scary to process all of this when you are completely by yourself.

 

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DIABETES SCREENING

Sep 22, 2022

This screening tool is not to diagnose a disease you or your loved one may have, but as we are all aware that early detection is key to dealing with any health issues.

DIABETES SCREENING TOOL

 

  1.     Do you feel tired all the time?
  2.     Does it seem like you are in the bathroom urinating excessively   
  3.     throughout the day?
  4.   Are you always thirsty?
  5.     Do you often get headaches?
  6.     Does your vision seem blurry at times?
  7.     Do you have a sore or a wound on your body that doesn’t seem
  8.     to heal?

If you have a family history of diabetes, are over the age of 45, overweight and have answered yes to any of the questions above please request your family doctor to perform a diabetes screening.  Early detection is key to managing a disease.



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What Is A TIA Versus A Stroke?

Sep 22, 2022

A Lot of the senior population goes through life without communicating the different things they are feeling or symptoms they are experiencing.  If they have a day when they are not feeling good, most times they will lie down hoping to feel better when they get back up.  Sometimes they do feel better, but not communicating what they were feeling could expedite a serious occurrence in the future.  With that being said I would like to share with you some things everyone should know about strokes.  There is nothing worse than hearing a diagnosis from a doctor, that you have no idea what exactly it is and how it will affect your loved one.

 

In medical terms, this diagnosis is called a Cerebral Vascular Accident abbreviated by CVA.  The other term used is a Transient Ischemic Attack abbreviated with TIA, commonly known as a mini stroke.  TIA’s can be a precursor of a much bigger problem and result in a CVA.  When someone has a TIA it is a...

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How To Choose A Medicare Plan

Jun 22, 2022

So you worked all of your life and always had health insurance which was provided to you by your employers.  Most people will remember that you paid a certain amount per paycheck and the rest was covered by your employer to see any physicians that were in your specific health plan.  Now you realize you have nothing once you don’t work.  It’s really scary but prior to retiring you will have decisions to make that can and will affect the rest of your life.  So the first thing you have to decide on is whether you will fall into Medicare or Medicaid.  There are financial responsibilities with Medicare which do not occur with Medicaid.  Medicaid has very strict income requirements you need to meet to be approved.  If you don’t meet the financial requirements for Medicaid then your option will be Medicare.  Medicare can be very confusing when making the right decision.  I would like to explain a few things that may be of...

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What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Jun 21, 2022

Parkinson's Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.  Since this disease is progressive, symptoms are different for all patients.  Some of the early signs may include:  tremors in hands or other parts of the body when at rest, a slowness of movement, rigid limbs, and gait or balance problems.  The cause of this disease remains unknown and there is no cure, only different treatment options.

 

Sometimes dopamine replacing medications are used to supplement the low levels in your brain.  Non-motor symptoms can impact the PD patient more than the motor symptoms.  Some non-motor symptoms include:  loss of smell, lack of interest, depression, sleep disorders, constipation, and cognitive impairment.

 

Diagnosing this disease and getting treatment as early as possible will help with the progression.  Treatments for PD are very individualized based on symptoms.  As the disease...

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