Nurses provide more than medical care to seniors

During National Nurses Week, let’s recognize the men and women who have chosen nursing as their profession. These dedicated individuals tend to be overlooked, but without them the medical community could not function.

Nurses touch their lives on a personal level

Nurses can reach out to those who are in need of care and touch their lives on a personal level. Whether a patient is in a hospital, medical office, rehab facility, in-home or other facility, a nurse can provide more than just comfort and care for their patients. Through a personal connection, a nurse can tap into their mindset and help them get through challenging situations. Nurses will try to provide comfort to a patient, even when there is no getting comfortable. They are there to ensure that a patient and his or her family know what the next steps are in treatment so the patient can make progress as quickly as possible.

Nurses have even been considered substitute family members. When you cannot be with a family member while they are in the hospital, rehab or nursing home, you can be comforted knowing that a nurse is there to care of your loved one.

The need for nurses continues to grow

As Baby Boomers continue to age and the healthcare field continues to grow, the need for nurses will continue to grow.

We have many nurses employed with us at Assisting Hands® Home Care. These men and women are kindhearted, thoughtful and hard-working. Their goal is to provide the best possible care to those in their charge. They continue to learn and grow, becoming better at what they do. Whether they are registered nurses, licensed practical nurses or certified nursing assistants, they provide outstanding home care to our clients that will improve the quality of their lives. As a result, they provide peace of mind for the families of our clients.

At Assisting Hands® Home Care, our goal is to give you a less stressful environment, while providing a safe and enjoyable experience for your loved one. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight we can accommodate your needs. You will sleep better knowing that your loved one isn’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100.

Dementia versus Alzheimer’s: What’s the Difference?

Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why you walked in there? Or have you frantically looked for your car keys thinking that you knew exactly where they were, but they were nowhere to be found? Those types of situations, looked at individually, do not mean you are developing dementia. They could simply be classified as mild forgetfulness, which is a normal part of aging. However, if you find your keys, but don’t know what to do with them, you may want to seek medical advice.

I often hear statements like, “My mother has Alzheimer’s disease” or “My father-in-law has dementia.” These terms seem to be used interchangeably frequently. Many people believe they mean the same thing; the fact that they have different meanings confuses patients, families and caregivers.

Dementia is the general loss of cognitive functions, like thinking and remembering things. Alzheimer’s disease is one of several types of dementia. Types of dementia include (but are not limited to):

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Lewy body dementia
• Frontotemporal disorders
• Vascular dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease

According to the Center for Disease Control, the 5.4 million people with Alzheimer’s disease account for 50 to 70 percent of all dementia cases. This is the most common form of dementia, which is why many people use these terms interchangeably.

Plaque may build-up between nerve cells and tangles (twisted fibers of another protein) inside cells, which may happen as people age. This plaque is much more developed for those people with Alzheimer’s.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s may include impaired thought or speech, and confusion. The symptom that is most common in the early stages of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering something new. That is why someone might remember an event from decades earlier, but not what they did earlier that day. Over time, however, this recall may continue to get worse. Other symptoms may develop, such as deepening confusion, mood changes, more serious memory loss and even difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.

Unlike some other forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s is degenerative; currently there is no cure for it. Scientists are trying to figure out how the plaque build-up affects this disease. The good news is that there has been a lot of progress in the last 15 years that could lead to new treatments to help reduce its effects or possibly provide a cure.

Lewy Body Dementia

Named for scientist, Friederich H. Lewy, who discovered irregular protein deposits in the brain stem in the early 1900’s, Lewy Body dementia (LBD) affects approximately 1.4 million Americans. These abnormal protein deposits found in the brain stem disrupt the brain's normal functioning.

The symptoms of Lewy Body dementia are similar to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease dementia, so this lesser-known form of dementia has been underdiagnosed. However, the core features of LBD include:

• Cognition impairment, with attention and alertness deficits

• Visual hallucinations

• Sudden Parkinson-related symptoms

Because of the type of disease, people with LBD require wide-ranging treatment. The goal is to find the best treatment for each portion of the disease, without worsening symptoms from other areas. However, these treatments will simply slow the progression of the disease; there is no cure for it at this time.

Frontotemporal disorders

Frontotemporal dementia is caused by nerve cell damage to the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain. The degeneration of the lobes can cause a decline in behavior and personality, language, and muscle/motor skills. This disease generally affects people in their 50s and 60s, but has been found in people as young as in their 20s or as old as in their 80s.

At this time, the only known risk factor for frontotemporal dementia is genetics, which is the leading cause in about a third of these dementia cases. Unlike other forms of dementia, this disorder does not have any treatments to delay the progression of the disease, only medication to reduce anxiety or depression.

Because of the decline in muscle and motor skills, patients tend to wind up wheelchair or bed-bound, with issues chewing, swallowing, moving and other motor skills.

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain, caused by a variety of conditions. A lack of blood flow to any part of the body could kill cells, but it is even more damaging to the brain, where there is the biggest network of blood vessels in the body. This might happen after a stroke and could get worse if a person has a series of small strokes.

When the brain does not get enough blood, the result is a decline in thinking skills. This decline could be mild, but could worsen if a person has a series of strokes or other conditions that block the blood flow.

Symptoms of vascular dementia (or vascular cognitive impairment, a term some experts want to use) can vary depending on what area of the brain is damaged from the lack of blood flow. If the portion of the brain that controls memory is not affected, a person’s memory may not be affected either. Other symptoms may include confusion, disorientation, difficulty speaking and/or vision loss. These symptoms may be more obvious right after someone has a stroke, but could improve during recovery. However, symptoms could get worse if a person has another stoke or a series of mini-strokes.

As with other forms of dementia, there is no cure for this disease. Controlling risk factors, such as no smoking, lowering blood pressure and weight, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight could help prevent additional decline.

What can you do?

If you think you or your loved one may have more pronounced memory loss, your doctor can perform a series of screenings, such as blood tests, brain scans or mental evaluations, to confirm the type of dementia you or a loved one has.

Our owner, Richard Ueberfluss, has earned the designation of Certified Dementia Practitioner® from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. This Council was formed to promote standards of excellence in dementia education to professionals and other caregivers who provide services to dementia clients. Its goal, as is the goal of its members, is to develop and encourage comprehensive standards of excellence in direct-care skills, education and sensitivity in the area of dementia care. Richard is committed to those standards and shares them with everyone at Assisting Hands^® Home Care.

We provide our clients with home care so they get the help they need, whether they have mental or physical struggles. We want them to stay safely in their own home for longer. We also provide a respite for you, the family caregiver. Whether you need someone to be with your senior loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care from LaGrange to Naperville, Wheaton to Willowbrook, click here.

How to Prevent Vision Loss from Glaucoma

Did you know that glaucoma is a leading cause of preventable vision loss and blindness in the United States? There are approximately 3 million people in the United States alone (60 million worldwide) who have glaucoma, with half of them not even knowing they have the disease. Of the 60 million people worldwide, 13% are blind. According to the National Eye Institute, the number of cases of glaucoma will increase almost 60% in the next 25 years.

What makes this disease a ‘sight-stealer’ is that many people don’t even know they have it since there are no symptoms in its early stages. In fact, a person could lose up to 40% of their vision without even noticing! Yes, almost half of a person’s eyesight could be lost and they would not know it. What’s worse is that once vision has been lost due to glaucoma, it cannot be restored.

Glaucoma tends to affect middle-aged and older adults, but it can affect people of all ages. Vision loss associated with this disease is irreversible because it damages the optic nerve, which is what is used to carry the images you see to the brain. It’s like fraying a power cable to your television; as more damage occurs, the picture gets worse. If the cable becomes completely frayed, you won’t get a signal at all.

Although there is currently no cure for glaucoma, it can be treated with medication or surgery to slow or prevent further vision loss. If caught early, a person might have little to no vision loss.

During National Glaucoma Awareness Month, we want to share a couple tips to help you avoid suffering from this preventable disease:

•  Get Regular Eye Exams. A comprehensive eye exam can check for glaucoma. If a person receives regular eye exams, it is possible to catch this disease before it reduces eyesight.
•  Know If You Are High Risk. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, you are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma if:

    You are of African, Asian and Hispanic descent.

    You have a family history of glaucoma.

    You are a diabetic.

    You are over 60 years old.

Glaucoma is not curable, but when caught early enough, it is treatable, which can prevent irreversible eyesight loss. Many people don’t know that this is could be an issue for them. But once you know, you can do something about it simply by getting a comprehensive eye exam on a regular basis.

At Assisting Hands^® Home Care, our goal is to provide our clients with the help they need to keep them safely in their own home for longer. We also provide a respite for a family caregiver who needs a break from their caregiving duties or who can’t manage all those duties by themselves any longer. We can be there for your loved one whether they have physical or mental challenges.

Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

5 Tips to Make the Most of the Holiday Season

Some people look at this holiday season as a joyous time; others look at it with dread. Buying gifts, putting up decorations, cooking, baking, entertaining – there is a lot to do. Do these things sound fun or frustrating?

If you are a family caregiver for a senior loved one, you might dread having to do all of these extra things because you are already overwhelmed. Caring for your loved one takes time – cooking meals, feeding, grooming, medicating…the list could go on and on. That is on top of everything else you have to do – spouse, kids, activities, friends, career. The list of activities never ends! Then add all the hustle and bustle of the holidays on top of it and you might find it hard to keep afloat.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Especially at this time of the year, we all should have gratitude for the things we have. Finding peace, even in the small things, is not impossible. Although there may be some added work, the holidays can still be joyous.

Here are 5 tips to help you make the most of the holiday season:

·         Make a list and check it twice.  If it works for Santa, it can work for you too! Do you need to shop for gifts? Identify who you are shopping for, what they want and where you will find it. Do your homework online before you go. If you are so inclined, get your shopping done online and save yourself the trip to the mall. Is there extra baking and cooking to get ready for company? Pull out your recipes, check your ingredients and make sure you have what you need. This will save you from having to make multiple trips to the grocery store. The time you save from making fewer trips to the store can be used for doing something fun with your family instead.

·         Get the family involved in baking or cooking.  Did your mom used to make special Christmas cookies? Or was there a special dish that she made for dinner? Get your loved one involved with a holiday activity. Let your mom measure flour, use the cookie cutter to stamp out cookie shapes, or put icing/sprinkles on the special holiday cookies. This gets mom involved in the activity while being engaged with you or even the grandkids. Why not let them help as well and create new memories and traditions! It’s a win-win.

·         Go to a holiday event.  Almost every town has some sort of holiday event happening in the next few weeks. Is there a parade, light festival, concert, bazaar or other event happening nearby? Do your kids have school concerts or parties where family members are invited? Find something the whole family can go to and enjoy the time together. Make sure to mark the occasion with a couple of pictures that you can print for your loved one as a memento of the time together.

·         Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect!  No one said that every cookie has to be perfectly iced, every ornament in exactly the right place or every package wrapped with the perfect ribbon and bows. Sometimes the most memorable events are the ones when things aren’t perfect. “Remember when Uncle Joe spelled mom’s name wrong on the package?” “Remember when mom let us put the ornaments on the tree and we each divided up our sections?” Those were the good ‘ol days!

·         Remember the reason for the season. In the whole scheme of things, it’s okay if there is one less cookie or perfectly-wrapped package. If you can spend more time with your family sitting by a fire, singing a carol, or watching a classic movie, your holiday season will be a success!

At Assisting Hands^® Home Care, our goal is to provide our clients with the help they need to keep them safely in their own home for longer. We also provide a respite for a family caregiver who needs a break from their caregiving duties or who can’t manage all those duties by themselves any longer.

Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

Health Risks that Increase for Veterans

Did your dad, uncle, grandfather or a female relative serve in one of the armed forces? Chances are that someone in your family was in the military. My dad was in the Army, stationed in Key West during the Bay of Pigs invasion. You may think that Key West would be a prime place to be stationed, but being that close to Cuba during those trying times was not the ‘fun-in-the-sun’ that you might think!

On behalf of everyone here at Assisting Hands® Home Care, we want to thank all veterans for their service. It is because of their service that we have the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. We pray that the men and women currently serving in the Armed Forces stay out of harm’s way.

In addition to the dangers that these soldiers face, there are a variety of health risks that are greater for men and women who serve in the military than those who do not. Below we identify the added health risks they may face.

Most of these factors are prevalent whether veterans are young or old:

• Higher Risk of Heart Disease. Veterans who suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) may have blood vessels that don’t expand as much as non-veterans, leading to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. According to a researcher from the University of California, San Francisco, there needs to be more research into the relationship between mental health and cardiovascular disease.

• Suicides. Beginning in 2008, the rate of suicides in the Army outnumbered those of civilians. Almost one-third of suicides of military personnel involved alcohol or drug use. Depression and PTSD are suicide risk factors that should not go unchecked.

• ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). U. S. veterans are almost twice as likely to contract ALS as the rest of the population, according to the ALS Association. It doesn’t seem to matter if the veteran served in a time of war or peace. Researchers are still looking for the link between military service and this incurable disease.

• Cancers and Other Health Problems Associated with Agent Orange Exposure. Veterans who served in Korea or Vietnam and were exposed to Agent Orange are at an increased risk for several diseases, including cancers, type 2 diabetes, Hodgkin’s disease, heart disease and more. It is even more important that these veterans and their loved ones take care of them in the hopes of preventing one of these diseases.

At Assisting Hands® Home Care we take pride in serving our veterans, as well as civilians. With all the sacrifices they have made for our country, we are honored that we can be with them when you can’t be there. Our caregivers are aware of these health risks and are trained to look for these symptoms.

Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight we can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that your loved one isn’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100.

Will you need long-term care in the future?

Everyone thinks about the future to some extent. Where will you go for vacation? Should you change jobs? How much money do you need to retire?

But have you thought about long-term care? Regardless of how old you are, you should think ahead about this type of care. The services we provide at Assisting Hands^® Home Care fall under long term care. They include things like personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, grocery shopping and companionship.

 

‘I’m fine. I eat right and exercise. I won’t need those services.’

You may be thinking, ‘I’m fine. I eat right and exercise. I won’t need those services. That’s for someone else.’ We hope so! But you would be surprised. We have clients from all walks of life and health conditions. They might not have thought in their 40’s that they would need assisted living services, but circumstances change. One fall or other type of accident and you may find yourself needing an extra set of hands to help you, even for a short period of time. Regardless of your age today, think about this type of care for your future self.

Did you know that Medicare does not provide coverage for this type of long-term care services? Medicare will cover medically necessary care, such as physical therapy to help a person regain function on a short-term basis. Many private insurance plans have similar types of coverage. There are other types of coverage, such as long-term care insurance to protect you or your loved one. But those policies are easier to get when you are younger and healthier (and not necessarily thinking about these types of needs).

 If you haven’t thought about long-term care before, here are a few facts:

 

·         Almost 3 of every 4 people turning 65 today will need some type of long-term care service and support.

·         Women will need care for longer than men (3.7 years versus 2.2 years respectively)

·         Twenty percent of seniors will need long-term care services for more than 5 years

·         Two-thirds of seniors have some sort of in-home care versus about one-third having care in an outside nursing or assisted living facility.

At Assisting Hands^® Home Care, our goal is to provide our clients with the help they need to keep them safely in their own home for longer. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

3 Tips for Stronger Bones and Healthier Joints

Our bones and joints keep us upright and mobile. If they begin to degrade, we become less able to do the things we love to do and our quality of life begins to suffer. According to the Bone and Joint Initiative, more than one in two Americans over the age of 18 – and almost three of every four adults over age 65 - are restricted in some way by a musculoskeletal disorder, such as arthritis, back pain, fractures, osteoporosis, sports trauma or other issues.

The cost of treatment for these diseases continues to increase even more than other common health problems, partly because these musculoskeletal disorders generally involve long-term pain and physical disability. Did you know that treatment and lost wage costs just in the United States was almost $900 BILLION from 2009 to 2011? These healthcare costs will only continue to increase as the U.S. population continues to age.

As Bone and Joint Health Action Week comes to a close, we want to share tips to keep your bones and joints in top shape:

• Be Active – that could mean taking a walk, doing chores around the house or even dancing. Whatever you can do to keep from being sedentary, do it. If you can’t walk outside, walk in your house or go to a local mall and walk around it. Just have fun! The more you enjoy what you are doing, the more you’ll do it.
• Strengthening Exercise – Don’t think of a body builder when you hear strength training! You could even use cans of food from your pantry to lift if they are heavy enough for you. But strength training helps to strengthen your bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
• Aerobic Exercise – Whether you run, walk, climb or dance, aerobic exercise can get your heart revved up and will help build bone and keep joints healthy.

Make sure you consult with your physician before beginning any kind of exercise regimen.

At Assisting Hands® Home Care, many of our skilled caregivers are physical therapists and can help the seniors in our care keep active. We don’t want them to just sit in front of the television; we would rather have them enjoying themselves and staying as active as they can be. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

3 Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

According to the CDC, heart disease is the number one cause of death among men and women in the United States, killing over 600,000 people each year. That equates to approximately one in four deaths! Only American Indians and Alaskan Natives have a lower percentage at one in five deaths.

Although some heart disease is genetic, over 80 percent of deaths caused by heart disease are preventable. Just think what those almost 500,000 people who die each year might be doing today. Although prevention can start at any age, it is best if it is practiced when we are young. By having good habits throughout our lives, we may reduce our risk not only of heart disease other deadly diseases like strokes and cancer.

With World Heart Day falling on September 29^th, we thought we would call attention to heart disease and some prevention tips:

1. Have a healthy diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods is a good rule of thumb. By avoiding processed foods, you are also limiting added sodium and sugar in your diet, which will help to lower your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
2. Get regular exercise. Whether you walk, run, bike, swim, or cross-train, it is important to get 2 to 3 hours of physical activity every week. Talk to your doctor before starting any type of exercise regimen.
3. Don’t smoke. If you don’t smoke now, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. There are a variety of products and programs that can help a person quit smoking. If you tried to quit and it didn’t work, try again until it does. You can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease (and other diseases) by not smoking.

When you eat healthy foods and exercise regularly, you should be able to maintain a healthy weight. This will help you reduce your blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, all of which are contributing factors to heart disease. It is not too late to make some simple changes to your diet and exercise routine so your senior years are happy and healthy ones!

At Assisting Hands® Home Care, our skilled caregivers will make sure the seniors in our care are eating and exercising appropriately. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

3 Tips to Prevent In-Home Falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury death among individuals over 65 years of age, according to the CDC. Illnesses, medications and environmental factors can all affect strength and balance contributing to a fall. If someone you love has fallen once, there is data to suggest that 75% of those who fall, do so again within 6 months. Beginning at the age of 63, the number of deaths from falls starts to increase with dramatic increases at the age of 70. But shouldn’t we expect seniors to fall as they age due to balance and strength conditions? In fact, falls are not a normal part of the aging process. They can be prevented.

Assisting Hands has some timely advice to help prevent in-home falls:

First: talk with your doctor about falls and about improving management of any medical conditions including reviewing medication types and amounts with your physician. Take your medications and follow medication dosages closely. Using medication incorrectly may lead to dizziness, so be especially aware of medication changes and talk with your doctor about symptoms. Most importantly, don’t stop medications without consulting your doctor!

Ask your doctor about exercise, vestibular and balance training and increasing physical activity, a good place to start is an evaluation by a Physical Therapist and Audiologist.

Second: Be sure your home is as safe as possible by changing adverse environmental factors.

Take some practical steps such as:

• Wear shoes with nonskid soles (not house slippers or sandals).
• Be sure your home is well lit in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and stairways so that you can see things you might trip over and use night lights in your bedroom, bathroom, hallways and stairways.
• Remove throw rugs and tack down loose carpet edges.
• Keep your floor clear, and remove electrical cords across pathways.
• Install grab bars in your bathtub, shower and toilet area.
• Install handrails on both sides of stairways.
• Don’t climb on stools and stepladders. Get someone else to help with jobs that call for climbing, such as a caregiver.
• Keep your floor clean of liquids and don’t wax your floors.

Third: Think about home care, especially if you have fallen before and have trouble getting out of bed or up from a chair. You may want to consider an in-home caregiver to help with transfers, climbing and walking (the cost of a caregiver is typically 1/3 the cost of a nursing home.) Or you may want to talk with a Physical Therapist about starting a strengthening program and home safety screen. All of Assisting Hands’ home aides are specially trained in fall prevention through the Fall Prevention Centers of America.

Illnesses, medications and environmental factors can all affect strength and balance contributing to a fall. The best predictor of a future fall is a history of falls. Talk with your doctor, begin exercising with professional guidance and consider hiring a caregiver from Assisting Hands to help with risky tasks.

4 Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer's

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s; over 99% are 65 years or older. That means over 10 percent of senior citizens have Alzheimer’s disease. Currently Alzheimer’s is the 6^th leading cause of death in America, behind heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, accidents and stroke. It is also the only cause of death in the top 10 that cannot be prevented or cured.

There are many people around the world working hard to determine what causes Alzheimer’s so it can be prevented in the future. As recently as August 2016 scientists from the University of Cambridge discovered a gene signature in healthy brains that pinpoints the origins of Alzheimer’s disease. We will have to wait and see if this breakthrough will lead to preventative treatments for individuals who are considered high-risk for contracting this disease.

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s or magic pill to prevent it, there are things you can do to put yourself at a lower risk of getting it as you get older. Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease and staying social may help lower your risk.

Since September is World Alzheimer’s Month, we want to share 4 tips you can do today that may reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer’s:

• Eat Healthy: A lifestyle of less sodium, sugar, and processed foods, and more fruits, vegetables and lean meats may also help protect the brain. This healthy nutrition lifestyle also helps to lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

• Be Physically Active: Regular physical activity can increase blood and oxygen flow to the brain benefiting the brain’s cells. Although you should talk to your doctor before starting any type of exercise regimen, a brisk walk is a great start. Exercise will also help to lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

• Be Socially Active: Social interactions may help stimulate and strengthen the connections between nerve cells in the brain. As we age, it is important that we do not isolate ourselves from others. Having ongoing social contact is important for our mental and emotional well-being.

• Be Mentally Active: You may still be working, so your brain is ‘in gear’ throughout the day. But once you retire you need to find something to keep you mentally active. Whether you like to play games, do Sudoku or crossword puzzles, or learn something new, find the activity that will keep your mentally stimulated.

 At Assisting Hands® Home Care, our skilled caregivers provide companionship for their seniors and make sure they are eating right and getting the appropriate physical activity. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

Is Your Loved One Ready for Autumn?.

This is the time of year when parents load up their kids with the supplies they need to be successful in school. I may mean multiple trips to several stores. If you are a parent, you probably know what I mean! Classes, projects, after-school activities…binders, pens, paper, tablets, instruments, sports gear. The list goes on and on. But you make a list and check it off as you get your kids set for the year.

But what about your senior loved one? Even though they are not in school, you should take this time to make a list and be sure their needs are being met as well.

Here are 5 areas to check:

•  Food. It may be time to think about preparing some casseroles and soup that can be frozen for your loved one and ready for them when the weather turns colder. Even on a warm day a nice bowl of soup may be soothing. It is also time to go through the pantry and refrigerator/freezer to see what foods are old and/or expired. You don’t want your loved one to eat something that will make them sick. 
• Weight Loss or Gain. Has your loved one gained or lost weight recently? We think of weight loss as a good thing, but for an older adult sudden weight loss could point to other issues such as muscle loss, depression, medication side effects, medical conditions (like cancer or thyroid disorder), Alzheimer’s disease or even a dental problem. Some of these conditions could lead to a fall, and then there are a host of other issues to deal with! If their clothes are suddenly too tight or falling off, it may be time to schedule a doctor’s appointment to see if there is anything out of the ordinary. A little preventive care can go a long way. By the way, if they have lost or gained weight, make sure they have clothes that fit them properly. They may not ask about getting new clothes, but it is little things like that go a long way to keeping their dignity.
•  Safety. When was the last time you changed the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Why not take the time to switch them now. If the detector starts to ‘chirp’ in the middle of the night, you do not want your loved one on a step stool trying to remove a battery.
• Rugs. Have you checked the kitchen, bathrooms or hallways lately? Remove any throw rugs as they can be trip/fall hazards. Instead, make sure your loved one has house shoes with traction on the soles to keep from slipping but will still keep their feet warm.
• Bath. Make sure the non-slip surface on the shower or tub has not worn off. Also check to see if the shower or tub is clean. A dirty base can become slippery and again create a slip/fall hazard. Determine if it is time to add a grab bar to the shower for added safety.

At Assisting Hands® Home Care, our skilled caregivers will make sure the seniors in our care are eating and exercising appropriately. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

Protect Your Loved Ones During The Dog Days of Summer

Most of us love being outside in the summer when the weather is warm and the sun is shining. The kids will be back to school soon, so you need to make the most of it while you can. But these are the dog days of summer, a time when the heat and humidity can be deadly, especially for seniors (as well as infants and pets).

Below are 3 tips to help you keep your senior loved one safe during these dog days of summer:

1. Make sure their air conditioning is working properly. If they don’t have air conditioning, make sure they have plenty of fans where they live. Many seniors tend to be cold anyway, but you don’t want their residence to be too hot. Spend some time with them so you get a sense of the climate in their home.
2. If they go outside regularly, suggest that they go in the morning or evening hours when the temperature is lower and the sun isn’t so hot. If they have to be out mid-day, make sure they dress appropriately so they don’t get too much sun exposure. We all love the vitamin D from the sun, but only with the proper protection for our skin! Make sure they have on a hat and loose, light clothing. If you can, be outside with them in the morning or evening. Take a walk, go for ice cream, sit on the porch and watch the sun set.
3. Have them drink plenty of water. Did you know that the average person sweats about a quart of fluid every day? We would suggest that everyone drink plenty of water all year long, but it is especially important in the hot summer months when we sweat even more. You don’t want your loved one to become dehydrated. Make it easy for them; have a cup out on the counter so they can easily reach for it and get some water.

At Assisting Hands® Home Care, our skilled caregivers will make sure the seniors in our care are in the proper climate, whether inside or outside. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

Is Your Loved One Social?

You hear over and over how important it is to be physically active. But do you hear that it is also important to be socially active? People who are socially active have better mental health as well as cognitive function. They feel like they belong and are more connected to the world around them. Those who do not spend time others have a higher risk of developing depression and possibly dementia.

Since July is Social Wellness Month, we want to share 4 tips to help your senior loved one stay more socially active:

• Volunteer. Give your loved one the opportunity to give back to the community through volunteer work. Maybe they can help stuff envelopes for a mailing for a non-profit, help in a soup kitchen or even socialize with cats or dogs at a local animal shelter. Studies show that volunteering can lead to better health and mental cognition. It also gives people a sense of purpose as they do good for their community.
• Find or Continue a Hobby. Does your loved one like to paint, draw, play bridge, take pictures, fish or golf? If so, help them expand that hobby. There may be classes or events at a local park district or YMCA where they can get involved. There they can make friends and interact with other people who have the same passion.
• Catch Up with Old Friends. Does your loved one only talk to the same family members or a couple close friends? Why not reach out to other family members or friends they haven’t seen in a while and let them reconnect. If they can build a bigger social network, they won’t feel isolated.
• Interact with a Pet. Did your loved one have a cat or dog growing up or as a younger adult? If they can care for it, why not get them a pet that would be easy to take care of. (Cats are pretty self-sufficient.) If they don’t get a pet of their own, see ‘Volunteer’ above. If they are able, maybe they could volunteer at a local animal shelter a couple times a month. Psychology Today reviewed a number of published studies and found that pets do make excellent therapists. In fact, when looking at studies involving Alzheimer’s, development disabilities and even schizophrenia, the patients who interacted with therapy animals saw beneficial results.

At Assisting Hands Home Care, our caregivers can provide your loved one with safe transportation to activities so they can continue to have outside social interaction, as well as to and from doctor and other appointments, grocery shopping or other errands. Whether you need someone to be with them during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at home care can accommodate your needs. You will sleep better knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.