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.

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.

Is Your Loved One Ready for Winter?

As the song goes, ‘Baby, it’s cold outside.’ The temperature has dipped below zero and there is snow on the ground. Whether or not the calendar says it is officially winter, it certainly feels like it.

This is the time of the year when kids might be outside building a snowman, sledding or having snowball fights. They, and you, have your winter gear out and ready to use.

But what about your senior loved ones? Along with the cold winter months come additional hazards, especially for older adults. Are they prepared?

Here are a few senior safety tips to make sure your loved ones have a safe and healthy winter:

• Accidents While Driving.

  This time of the year the roads are icy and it gets dark very early. Anyone could have a hard time stopping. If an older adult’s reflexes are slower or if their eyesight isn’t what it used to be, it makes them even more likely to have an accident when the weather is bad. According to the CDC, 600 older adults are injured or killed in vehicular accidents every day.

What can you do?

Suggest that they only drive during the day or when the weather is clear.

Make sure their vehicle is tuned up, and their brakes and tires checked (and replaced if needed).

If they have a cell phone, even just for emergencies, make sure they keep it charged and with them in the car in case of an emergency.

• Falls.

  If anyone steps on a patch of ice or snow the wrong way, you could fall. That is even more of an issue for older adults, especially if they are unsteady on their feet. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than one in three adults over 65 years old will fall each year, with more than 1.6 million older Americans having to go to the emergency room because of falls. Studies show that there is a high correlation between cold weather and falls in older adults.

What can you do?

If your loved one lives in a house, make sure their driveway and walkways are clear of snow and ice. If you or they can’t clear it, hire someone to do it for them.

Make sure they have proper footwear for winter – boots or shoes with non-skid soles to give them better traction on a slippery surface.

If they use canes or walkers, replace the rubber tip if it is worn out.

If they don’t have to go out in cold, icy weather, then they shouldn’t. They could be said for adults and kids too!

• Snow shoveling injury.

  If your loved one is capable and in a house, they might want to get out and shovel the snow or ice from their walkways and driveway. If you have shoveled wet snow, you know that it can become very heavy very quickly. This could cause a strained back, arms, or legs; a fall; or even a heart attack.

What can you do?

Shovel the snow for them. It’s a little extra exercise for you and it takes the burden away from your loved one.

If you can’t shovel for them and they, or you, can afford it, pay someone else to shovel the snow.

If they choose to shovel, make sure they have a good, ergo dynamic shovel or even a snow blower (if they are comfortable using it).

Ask them to take breaks when shoveling so they don’t get too winded.

Make sure they shovel correctly, bending from their knees, not from their back.

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 if they need to go out in the cold, icy weather so you don’t have to worry about them falling.

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.