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Dear Zoe Turchin, Welcome to Home Care Help Team! We are glad to introduce Zoe to our family. Zoe was referred from the client’s family with whom she will work as a family caregiver.  Zoe went through the employment requirements. She passed the background clearances and health screening. We are very happy that you’ve joined our great team and wish you all the best in the new job!

Seniors should focus on preventative measures to stay as healthy as possible as they get older. One of the preventative measures that seniors should take is getting regular health screenings. Many of the medical conditions that seniors are prone to can be managed or treated if they are caught early. That’s why doctors encourage seniors to get regular screenings for common diseases that affect seniors. If your senior parent doesn’t like going to the doctor, they may put off getting regular screenings and only go to the doctor when they are sick or have symptoms that can’t be ignored. You should encourage your senior parent to get regular health screenings by talking about screenings with them. You can also make appointments for them and offer to take them. Elder care providers can take your senior parent to screenings when you can’t. According to doctors, most seniors should be getting these screenings every year: Blood Pressure Screening Getting regular blood pressure checks is essential for seniors. The doctor will check for hypertension and administer medication if necessary to prevent heart disease and lower the risk of stroke. It’s very common for seniors to have high blood pressure, but when it’s caught early medication can be a big help keeping blood pressure in a healthy range. Cholesterol Levels Having high cholesterol can make seniors more likely to develop conditions like heart disease and diabetes. If seniors find out they have high cholesterol a combination of diet, medication, and exercise can bring their cholesterol down and improve their health. Elder care can help seniors make the lifestyle changes necessary to support their health, like cooking healthy meals. Blood Glucose Testing Diabetes is one of the most common diseases that impact seniors. Millions of seniors have diabetes or prediabetes. Seniors who are prediabetic and find out through blood glucose testing may be able to reverse their condition with medication and lifestyle changes before it becomes full-blown diabetes. Bone Density Scan (DEXA Scan) Osteoporosis becomes more prevalent with age, particularly in postmenopausal women and older men. A bone density scan assesses bone health and helps in identifying the risk of fractures. Seniors, especially women, should get a bone density scan to determine if their bones are weak or if they are developing osteoporosis. Eye Examination Regular eye exams are crucial for seniors to monitor for conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. Early detection and intervention can help preserve vision and prevent further deterioration. Hearing Tests Hearing loss is common among seniors and it’s not always due to normal aging. Annual hearing tests can detect hearing issues early, which means that doctors may be able to slow down the progression of hearing loss. Doctors may also be able to suggest medical equipment like hearing aids to help with hearing loss. Colorectal Cancer Screening Colorectal cancer is a common cancer in seniors, and regular screenings, such as colonoscopies or fecal occult blood tests, can help detect precancerous lesions or early-stage cancers. Doctors have more treatment options if the cancer is detected early. Mammogram (for Women) Women who are over the age of 65  should undergo an annual mammogram to screen for breast cancer. Regular mammograms can detect breast cancer in its early stages when treatment is more effective. Prostate Cancer Screening (for Men) Men aged 50 and older should discuss prostate cancer screening with their healthcare provider. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and digital rectal exams can help detect prostate cancer early when it is more treatable. Annual Physical Examination All seniors should have an annual physical exam that will give their doctor an overall assessment of their health. Annual exams give doctors a baseline of a senior’s current health. That can help doctors diagnose problems in the future. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Elder Care in Pasadena, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call us today at (888) 989-7388

Seniors often don’t get enough fiber in their diets. Fiber-rich foods are important for good health, and many seniors aren’t eating enough healthy foods on a regular basis. Fiber improves digestive health, helps stabilize blood sugar, can help with weight loss, and can even improve heart health in seniors. If your senior parent is living alone and not eating a healthy diet that includes fiber-rich foods home care assistance can help. With home care assistance your mom or dad will have daily help from a care provider with things like housework, shopping, and cooking meals. A care provider can share meals with your mom or dad to encourage them to eat healthy dishes. Seniors often will skip meals or not eat a full healthy meal if they have to eat alone. And it’s not really possible for family caregivers to be there for every meal. Homecare assistance can fill in the gaps and make sure that your mom or dad is eating fiber-full foods. Some easy ways to get your mom or dad to eat more fiber are: 1. Add Fruits to Their Meals Fresh fruits are a great source of fiber. Apples, pears, and berries are especially high in fiber. Leave the skins on for extra benefits. Encourage your senior parent to snack on fruits or add them to breakfast cereals or yogurt. You or a home care provider can make up pre-portioned fruit snacks that your mom or dad can enjoy throughout the day. Dried fruits like prunes and apricots also work well but watch portion sizes to avoid too much sugar. 2. Include More Vegetables Vegetables are rich in fiber and nutrients and seniors usually don’t eat enough of them every day. Your mom or dad’s diet should be mainly plants. Add leafy greens like spinach or kale to salads and soups. Serve cooked vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and squash with meals. Raw veggies like celery and cucumbers make crunchy, fiber-filled snacks. Aim to fill half of their plate with vegetables at lunch and dinner. 3. Switch to Whole Grains Switching to whole grains instead of processed flour is an easy way to make sure that your mom or dad is getting more fiber. Whole grains contain more fiber than refined grains. Replace white bread and rice with whole-grain bread, brown rice, or quinoa. Whole-grain cereals, oatmeal, and bran muffins are excellent breakfast options. Check labels for products with at least 3–5 grams of fiber per serving. There’s not a lot of difference in taste between whole grain products and processed flour products so your mom or dad should hardly notice the switch. 4. Add Legumes to Their Diet Legumes like beans, lentils, and chickpeas are high in fiber and protein. Add black beans to salads, lentils to soups, or chickpeas to stews. Hummus, made from chickpeas, is a tasty fiber-rich spread or dip. These foods can be easily incorporated into meals a few times a week. You can try going meatless on some days and substituting legume dishes for meat. Legumes have a lot of protein as well as fiber. 5. Snack on Nuts and Seeds Nuts and seeds are fiber-rich snacks that are also full of healthy fats. Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds are great choices. Sprinkle seeds on cereal or yogurt for added crunch and fiber. Be mindful of portion sizes, because nuts are high in calories and fat. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care Assistance in La Canada, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call us today at (888) 989-7388

Are you considering taking care of your dad after his stroke? Before you do, there are seven facts about unpaid caregiving that you need to remember. 16% of Family Caregivers Feel a Financial Strain What are you giving up if you care for your dad? If you have to reduce hours at work or quit a job, it’s likely you’ll be one of those family caregivers who end up experiencing financial strain. Generally, the two most common impacts are taking on more debt or setting money aside for the future. 20% of Family Caregivers Find the Work Difficult Without a doubt, providing your dad’s care isn’t going to be easy. The more you help your dad, the harder it can be. He may not love having you help with some of the more intimate care tasks, like toileting or bathing. If he’s not happy, he can be uncooperative, which makes it harder. The Average Number of Hours of Care Is Over 22 How many hours are you expecting to spend helping your dad? Altogether, the average number is 22 hours per week. After a stroke, he may need far more care than this. Therefore, you may need to carefully weigh your balance of work and caring for him. 28% of Family Caregivers Provide Care for Five or More Years When you’re a family caregiver, you may expect to be in that role for a year or two. Three out of ten family caregivers end up caring for a family member for five or more years. 51% of Family Caregivers Find Fulfillment Caring For a Parent Just over half of all family caregivers say that no matter how hard the work is, they find fulfillment in helping. Despite the emotional, mental, and physical strain, they find happiness in helping. 61% of Family Caregivers Work 40+ Hours a Week Even when caring for a parent, three out of five caregivers work 40 or more hours a week. If you add the average of 22 hours of care each week, you’re working 62 hours a week between your job and your role as a caregiver. 63% of Family Caregivers Do Not Live With Their Parents While some family caregivers move into their parents’ homes or move their parents into their homes, 63% of them live in separate houses. Given that, if this is your situation, you have to add travel times to and from your home to your dad’s home. Senior home care is essential if you’re a family caregiver. You need to take breaks for self-care. With senior home care aides helping, you can help your dad, but you’re not the only one there. You can take breaks as needed. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Senior Home Care in Culver City , CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today at (888) 989-7388.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disease that has a significant impact on movement, but the emotional toll can be equally difficult, particularly for seniors who opt to age in place. While being at home might be comforting and familiar, dealing with the emotional complexity of Parkinson’s demands a multidimensional strategy. Seniors with Parkinson’s disease may have many shifts in their emotional well-being, ranging from irritation and worry to loneliness and depression. To help combat the emotional highs and lows and ensure seniors have the right support, loved ones, home care, and the medical team need to work together. Frustration and Loss of Independence One of the first emotional obstacles that seniors with Parkinson’s confront is loss of freedom. Parkinson’s disease frequently causes tremors, muscle stiffness, and delayed movement, making even routine daily tasks like buttoning a shirt or preparing a meal difficult. For seniors who are aging in place, not being able to do these things on their own can be especially stressful since they may feel powerless or burdensome to their family. Adding home care to the mix can help, as it offers another avenue of support and may make seniors feel less dependent on their family alone. Also, the frustration of not being able to move as freely as before can have an influence on a senior’s confidence. Activities that were once enjoyable, such as gardening, cooking, or going for a walk, may no longer be possible without assistance. When this happens, seniors may feel as if they’re losing a part of themselves, which can heighten emotions even more. Concerns About the Future Parkinson’s disease is unpredictable, and it progresses differently from person to person. Seniors with the disease frequently face increased anxiety as they worry about how rapidly their condition will deteriorate. The worry of becoming entirely reliant, having to relocate to an assisted living facility, or losing the ability to communicate with or recognize loved ones can generate severe emotional stress. For those aging in place, there is added concern about whether their home setting will continue to suit their needs as their condition progresses. Additionally, seniors and their loved ones will likely become concerned about the safety of their houses and whether they will require costly changes such as ramps, grab bars, or stairlifts to meet their changing abilities. The constant concern about the future might have a negative impact on mental health over time. Social Isolation and Loneliness Living at home provides a sense of stability, but it can also lead to isolation. Additionally, as Parkinson’s disease worsens, seniors may find it more difficult to leave the house due to movement concerns or a fear of falling. This could lead to a decline in social activity, making the feelings of isolation even stronger. This is another area where home care shines, not only offering built-in socialization but support and encouragement for seniors to get out of the house and see friends, family, or participate in community events. The emotional toll on seniors aging in place with Parkinson’s disease can be just as difficult as the physical symptoms. To address this impact, home care and loved ones will need to work together to offer emotional support, clear communication, and create opportunities for continued social interactions. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care in Encino, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call us today at (888) 989-7388

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes more important for our general well-being as the years pass by. Two methods for ensuring the best health are understanding calorie intake and having consistent physical activity. Both are essential for weight management, preventing chronic illnesses, and keeping seniors healthy. However, understanding exactly what is needed can be confusing, which is where companion care at home  comes in. With home care support, seniors can learn how to be in control of their daily calorie intake and how much physical exercise they need. What are Calories? Calories are units of energy found in the foods and beverages we eat. The body requires calories to function correctly. The quantity of calories required each day is determined by a variety of factors, including age, gender, activity level, and overall health. With this in mind, it’s also important to understand the metabolism naturally slows down with age, which means most seniors need fewer calories than when they were younger. Still, they need to ensure they get enough calories each day to maintain muscle mass, bone health, and energy levels. How Much Should Seniors Eat? When looking at physical activity, the following calorie ranges are what seniors should shoot for. Sedentary Seniors: Seniors who get little to no physical exercise will typically require 1,600-2,000 calories per day. Moderately Active Seniors: Seniors who engage in light physical exercise such as walking will need around 1,800–2,200 calories per day. Active Seniors: Seniors who work out regularly will need more calories. Their range might be as high as 2,000–2,400 calories per day. Seniors should focus on nutrient-dense diets rather than merely the number of calories. With the help of companion care at home , they can learn what foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients. As much as possible, seniors should stay away from added sugars, harmful fats, and empty calories, like what is in soda. The Role of Physical Activity With the above information in mind, it’s easy to see that physical activity is just as important as calorie intake. Exercise helps seniors maintain a healthy weight and muscle mass while also enhancing balance and improving their cardiovascular health. Regular physical activity can also help avoid chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. The CDC suggests that seniors should try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as walking or swimming, every week. It’s also a good idea for seniors to add some form of strength training a couple of times a week. It should be noted that even simple activities such as gardening, stretching, or taking brief walks can have a significant impact over time. How Do Calorie Intake and Physical Activity Work Together? The balance of calories consumed and physical activity impacts whether seniors gain, lose, or maintain weight. For instance, if they eat more calories than their body needs without burning them via physical exercise, the excess calories are stored as fat, resulting in weight gain. However, if they burn more calories than they eat, the body will use the stored fat as energy, resulting in weight loss. Finding a balance is important for seniors’ long-term health and their overall general health and well-being. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Companion Care at Home in Silver Lake, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call us today at (888) 989-7388

It’s a mouthful to say, but dry macular degeneration is a condition of the eyes that can affect the elderly and reduce their sight to the point that they can no longer drive or read. It doesn’t cause complete blindness but may lead to your loved one needing someone with him around the clock to help with care. Dry Macular Degeneration Causes While many times, dry macular degeneration occurs without any known causes, it generally occurs as the eye ages. Over the years, the macula (the part of the retina that is responsible for the ability to see clearly in the direct line of sight) becomes thinner and the cells responsible for central vision are lost. Peripheral vision is usually retained while central vision is slowly reduced. Other factors that may increase the risk of developing dry macular degeneration include: Smoking Race (it’s more prevalent among Caucasian people) Obesity High Blood Pressure or Heart Disease Symptoms of Dry Macular Degeneration The symptoms of eye macular degeneration often come on slowly so your loved one may not immediately notice a change in their vision. Or they may think they’ve just let their eyeglass prescription get too old and it’s not working as well anymore. It can affect one eye or both, and if it only affects one eye, it can be more difficult to detect as the stronger eye works to compensate for the affected eye’s inability to work properly. Common Dry Macular Degeneration Symptoms Include: Difficulty in recognizing faces. Difficulty in reading because words are blurry and tough to focus on. Difficulty in seeing details in low light, such as reading or sewing. Difficulty in adapting to low-light areas. It’ll take your loved one longer for her eyes to adjust when entering a dark room. Visual distortions, such as straight lines look suddenly crooked. A newly developed blind spot or blurry area in the field of vision. Adjustments Your Loved One with Dry Macular Degeneration Can Make At Home There isn’t a way to reverse the damage done to the sight due to dry macular degeneration but your loved one can make some adjustments in her home to prevent further damage as well as manage the current symptoms of the disease. If the damage is severe, your loved one might consider having a 24-hour home care team stay at the home with her so she can continue living in her home. A 24-hour home team can ensure your loved one stays safe at all hours of the day so that she always has some help when needed. From preparing meals to reading the daily news to your loved one to providing transportation, a 24-hour home team will keep your loved one connected to the world around her. Five Steps to Improve Vision Capabilities Around the Home Review her eyeglass prescription to make sure it’s up to date. Your loved one may want to see a low-vision specialist. Purchase magnifying devices to help with close-up work such as threading a needle. Adjust screens to help sight. Video screens should be bright and have larger print. If more help is needed, consider having speech output programs added to read to your loved one. Install low-vision devices around the home such as clocks and appliances with large numbers. Increase lighting in dark areas making it safer for your loved one to walk without fear of tripping. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring 24-Hour Home Care in Silver Lake, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call us today at (888) 989-7388

October is Physical Therapy Month, and it’s a great time to learn more about physical therapy at home for seniors and how it can help your mom or dad. If your mom or dad wants to live independently, physical therapy may be able to help them stay strong enough to do that. Seniors who are aging in place should have senior home care also. Senior home care helps seniors with household chores, getting to medical appointments, making meals, shopping, and many other tasks that need to get done in order for your mom or dad to be safe at home. Physical therapy at home won’t replace senior home care, but it can help your senior parent increase their muscle strength, flexibility, and ability to walk. Some of the benefits of physical therapy at home for seniors include: Personalized Care in a Comfortable Setting Home-based physical therapy for your mom or dad provides personalized care that is tailored to your senior parent’s individual needs and their home environment. Doing physical therapy exercises in the comfort of their home can help make therapy more comfortable and less intimidating for seniors. That can make seniors more likely to do the exercises that they are prescribed. Convenience and Accessibility Home therapy eliminates the need for travel, which can be challenging for seniors with mobility issues or those living in remote areas. While senior home care providers can help seniors get to medical appointments, seniors with limited mobility often prefer to have physical therapy at home. Reducing the need for transportation can decrease the risk of falls or injuries while traveling and makes it easier to fit therapy into a busy or limited schedule. Improved Safety Physical therapists can assess and address safety concerns in your senior parent’s home, such as identifying potential fall hazards and recommending modifications or adaptive equipment. By improving safety at home physical therapy helps prevent falls and other accidents. Customized Exercise Plans Therapists can design exercise programs that are specifically suited to your mom or dad’s home environment and physical capabilities. This includes using available household items as part of the therapy. When physical therapy is done at home your mom or dad’s senior home care provider can also observe, and ask the physical therapist how best to support your senior parent while they do their exercises. Tailoring exercises to your senior parent’s daily life makes them more practical and relevant, increasing the likelihood that your mom or dad will do them. And, that leads to improved strength, balance, and mobility. Enhanced Family Involvement and Support Therapy sessions at home provide an opportunity for family members to observe and learn about the senior’s therapy needs, allowing them to provide better support and encouragement. Involving family members in the therapy process can enhance motivation and ensure that the senior continues their exercises and adheres to the therapy plan, contributing to better overall outcomes. If you can’t be at your senior parent’s physical therapy sessions at home a senior home care provider can be. They can take notes and ask questions for you. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Senior Home Care in Encino, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call us today at (888) 989-7388

Staying active is important for all of us, and it doesn’t stop being important as we age. In fact, in many ways, an active lifestyle is even more important after retirement years. Before their 70’s, many people stay active without really thinking about it. They chase after children, work in an office that has stairs, or run errands all around town all day. But as your loved one has aged, she might have found that she needs to be more intentional about being active. One great way to have regular exercise is to join a swimming club, where your loved one can swim supervised each day, or at least several times a week. If she doesn’t have one in her immediate community, have her companion care at home provider help with transportation to and from a location that has swimming activities that are created especially for seniors. Her companion care at home provider can also help with getting her ready to go in the pool and shower off after if needed. Not to mention, a companion care at home provider can be a great cheerleader from the sidelines. The benefits of swimming are plentiful. Here are four key areas that your loved one will benefit from with a regular swim exercise routine. Improved Stability Are you worried about your loved one falling when she is at home? Swimming can help. Because swimming builds muscles in the core, upper body, and legs, your loved one will feel more stable when she’s climbing stairs or navigating rough ground. The strength she builds will directly improve her posture and stability. A Stronger Heart Swimming is a cardiovascular exercise that is “easy” to do. Unlike many other cardiovascular exercises that can cause a person to get overheated or possibly fall and injure themselves, swimming provides a nice buoyant environment that allows your loved one to get a good workout without feeling like she’s overdoing it. Because swimming is so pleasant, many people are likely to swim for a lot longer than they would ride a bike or go on a brisk walk. Tell your loved one to just keep swimming to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. A Sharper Mind Swimming also improves cognitive function. By simply stepping into a large pool of water, blood flow to the brain is increased. Increased blood flow means the brain will be able to function better with tasks like memory, problem-solving, and concentration. Swimming can also greatly reduce stress, which can harm brain function. Increased Flexibility If your loved one complains to her companion care at home provider about being stiff every morning, she might want to take up swimming. Because water helps support the body as it moves, muscles are able to extend their range of motion in the water without pain, and thus be more limber and flexible when out of the water as well. Those are just a few benefits of water exercise like swimming. It’s a great activity for your elderly loved one to try. Most places have classes for all levels. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Companion Care at Home in Culver City, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today at (888) 989-7388

If your mom is living alone she may need some help with basic tasks as she gets older, including some hygiene tasks. It’s very common for seniors to need some help with things like showering or getting dressed as they get older, but many seniors don’t like to talk about it or ask for help. There will be signs that your mom needs help. You might notice that her hair doesn’t look as clean as it used to. Or you might notice she wears the same clothes frequently, because they may be the only ones she can easily put on. Personal care at home can help your mom with hygiene tasks in a discreet and empathetic way so that she doesn’t have to ask you for help. Getting personal care at home is a fantastic way to make sure that your mom has help with hygiene tasks like: Bathing or Showering If your mom isn’t getting around as easily as she used to she may need assistance with getting in and out of the tub or shower safely. It’s a good idea to have someone help your mom shower just in case she gets dizzy or loses her balance so that she doesn’t fall. She also may need a care provider’s help with washing hard-to-reach areas to ensure thorough cleaning. Oral Care Regular brushing, flossing, and denture cleaning might become challenging if your mom is losing her grip strength or struggling with arthritis. She may need help with maintaining good oral hygiene. A care provider can help your mom brush her teeth twice a day, floss, and use mouthwash to keep teeth and gums healthy. If your mom has dentures a care provider can also help her properly clean and disinfect her dentures so that the dirty dentures don’t cause gum disease or oral infections. Hair Care Washing, drying, and styling hair can be difficult for seniors with limited mobility or dexterity, so having personal care at home is a great way to help her maintain her hair. For many women having clean and properly styled hair affects their self-confidence. If your mom isn’t able to wash and care for her hair it could impact her mental health. Nail Care Nail care tasks like trimming and cleaning fingernails and toenails may be difficult or impossible for your mom, especially if she has weak grip strength or limited flexibility. It’s very common for seniors to be unable to bend over and reach their toes well enough to cut their own toenails. Dressing If your mom is struggling with dexterity issues, weak hands, or other symptoms she may not be able to wear the clothes she really wants to wear. A care provider can help your mom look and feel her best every day in the clothes that she really wants to wear. Skin Care Applying moisturizers, checking for skin issues like dryness or sores, and ensuring overall skin health is important, especially if your mom has sensitive or aging skin. A caregiver can help your mom take good care of her skin every day. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Personal Care at Home in Encino, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call us today at (888) 989-7388