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You have been caring for a senior parent, but now you need to go back to work. You are probably worried about how you will juggle caring for your senior parent with work. The “sandwich generation” caring for kids and parents is, like you, trying to balance work and family. Home care for seniors can provide the care needed, so you can work without worrying. With home care, a senior’s needs determine the tailored plan, but includes services like: House Cleaning  Home care providers typically do light housekeeping for seniors, like dishes, laundry, making beds, dusting, and decluttering. They remove clutter from walkways to ensure your senior loved one’s way is clear. They also clear hazards like cords, so your senior loved one can move around safely. In the kitchen, they will put away dishes, pots, and pans to keep the kitchen tidy. Shopping And Errands Home care providers can help with groceries, picking up medication, appointments, and errands. This is helpful for seniors who don’t drive, but still like to do their own shopping and errands. Caregivers can go with your senior loved one to do their errands, or they can do the shopping and errands for your senior loved one. They can also ensure your senior parent gets to any necessary doctor’s appointments, eye exams, or dental appointments. Meals Home care includes cooking and meal prep for seniors. Your senior parent will share meals with a care provider, who will ensure your senior loved one eats healthy meals throughout the day. The care provider can also pre-cook and portion or prep snacks and meals that your senior loved one can just heat up in the microwave when they are alone. Then, they have delicious healthy snacks and meals to eat all the time, even if the care provider isn’t there. Companionship  If you’re worried your senior loved one will be lonely because you have to go back to work and can’t spend as much time with them, don’t be worried. Of course, they would rather spend time with you, but having a daily care provider will also give them plenty of social interaction throughout the day. They will have the companionship they need to stay happy and healthy. Caregivers can also take seniors out for walks, or take them to local attractions like museums or the botanical gardens, so that seniors can get out and do fun things. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring 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.

As seniors get older, they often face unexpected challenges. One of the most challenging parts of aging for many seniors is difficulty with hygiene and daily living activities. Seniors can find it embarrassing and awkward when they can no longer take care of their hygiene. Personal care at home is a good option for seniors, which helps with hygiene and dignity. If your senior loved one needs hygiene help, but doesn’t want your help, or you can’t help at home, that is the solution. Some benefits of personal care at home for seniors are: Safer Care One of the challenges of helping seniors with hygiene tasks is safely providing help. Caregivers who specialize in personal care are trained in techniques to help seniors safely with daily activities. Helping seniors with activities can be dangerous for untrained family members. Expert Care Expert caregivers know how to adjust their approach based on the senior’s ability to do specific tasks. They can identify which tasks give seniors trouble. The senior also doesn’t need to tell them in what areas they need help. Family caregivers may not see signs that their senior parent is struggling with daily activities. Caregivers with training and experience can assess how well seniors can perform a task, so they know when to intervene. Less Embarrassment Most people prefer private hygiene, but seniors often lack this luxury. Personal care professionals know how to keep seniors’ dignity intact when they need help with hygiene. Many seniors feel relief and less embarrassment with a professional caregiver’s help than a family member’s. Better Health Seniors often develop serious health problems when they are too embarrassed to ask for help with hygiene. UTIs and other infections can be serious for seniors, sometimes even deadly. Professional home care for seniors eases health and hygiene maintenance. Talk to your senior parent today about professional help for personal care. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Personal Care at Home 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.

Every senior with grandkids should focus on making as many memories as possible with those kids. It can be difficult, especially if a senior is less mobile or can’t get around without the help of companion care at home . However, a senior can do many activities with you, the family, and kids, but you might have to be creative when thinking of those things. It is crucial, of course, for all seniors to have a connection with others and socialize with the family in various ways. Here are a few activities you can let your senior mom or dad do with the grandkids. Read Books Together Choose a kid’s book that is easy to read, or a chapter book they will only read with you. If your kids are a bit older, they may enjoy a complex book. Every time they visit Grandma or Grandpa, they will read a chapter together. This gives the kids and seniors something to look forward to every week. Obviously, it’s a great way to share a senior’s favorite stories and more with the grandkids. This activity is so underrated regarding things to do with the grandkids. Take a Look at Photo Albums Some grandkids will enjoy seeing how a senior grew up or how they raised you. If your senior loved one has collected photos, this can be something you all sort through. Your kids may even want to keep some photos, and it could surprise you. Not to mention, this is a chance to collect some pictures of your senior loved one yourself. Show Your Talent If you have a few kids and it’s hard to keep them all entertained, it can be hard for your senior to keep up. Try hosting a talent show at your senior’s home, or inviting your senior over for the show. This is a time for you to take pictures of your kids, showing off their skills to your mom or dad. It will entertain both the senior and your kids! It’s a chance for your mom or dad to see what your kids are like and where they shine most. Do a Scavenger Hunt in the House To a child, a treasure hunt is surely a dream come true. There are many methods to carry out this exercise. Create hints that will lead them to a book, a toy, or some candy as a reward. You may do it in your personal or communal spaces if you or your senior live in an apartment. Cook Together If your senior is still pretty mobile and loves to cook, they can teach your kids this. Older kids may love learning about your seniors’ recipes. Moreover, they like learning to make them. This gives your kids something to take and pass down to the next generation. It’s how secret family recipes start, and it is a great way to spend the evening. Your child will learn useful skills. Particularly, it’s a chance to snap pictures to save forever. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Companion Care at Home in Burbank , CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today at (888) 989-7388.

Over 37 million Americans have diabetes. Of those people, an estimated 8.5 million have no idea. Your dad’s just been diagnosed with diabetes, and you’re not sure what that means for him. Here are the facts you should learn during American Diabetes Month. People Over the Age of 45 Have a Higher Risk Certain risk factors increase the chances of diabetes. Age is one of them. There’s a higher risk of diabetes after the age of 45. Some races and ethnicities have a higher risk. A family history, a sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight also increase the chances of developing diabetes. Over 88 Million People Have Pre-Diabetes More than 88 million Americans have pre-diabetes. That’s about one in every three Americans. While this isn’t diabetes, it could progress to that point. Pre-diabetes occurs when the sugar levels in the blood are higher than they should be. Making changes to diet and exercise routines is important. So is losing weight if you are overweight. In fact, studies find that losing just 5% to 7% of your body weight reduces the risk of pre-diabetes becoming diabetes. Older Adults Are More Likely to Have Type 2 Diabetes There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 occurs when the body doesn’t produce insulin. It’s more commonly diagnosed as a child. Type 2 occurs when the body starts having a harder time distributing insulin to the cells as it should. It’s likely the form of diabetes your dad has. His treatment plan will be linked to the type of diabetes he has and how well his body responds to diet and exercise. Chronic Health Conditions Often Go Hand-in-Hand Diabetics have a high risk of developing other chronic health conditions, especially if their blood sugar levels are poorly managed. Around 29% of adults with diabetes also have chronic kidney disease. Almost 12% lose their vision. Around 1.87 million adults end up in the hospital with cardiovascular disease. Over 40% of adults with diabetes have high cholesterol. Almost seven out of ten adults with diabetes also have high blood pressure. Close to 90% are considered obese. Exercise Is Important No matter the diagnosis, your dad needs 150 minutes or more of moderate or strenuous activity. If your dad isn’t that active, undeniably, he needs to find exercise programs and activities that appeal to him. Swimming is a great activity. It’s easy on the joints, but the resistance in the water helps provide a strenuous workout. To be sure, walking and riding bikes are other activities that your dad may enjoy that ensure he gets enough exercise. If he can’t go outside, a treadmill or stationary bike are options for ensuring he works out. If your dad has diabetes and has a hard time with blood sugar management, arrange in-home care . The sooner someone helps him choose the right foods while shopping, and helps with medication reminders and meals, the easier it is. Call an in-home care specialist to make arrangements for him. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring In-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.

As a person ages, the body changes, and some conditions that your parent may be dealing with might cause him to lose balance or suffer from vertigo. Both of these conditions can increase his risk of falling. Falling puts him at greater risk for injury, whether it’s just a bad bruise or a long-term consequence, such as a broken hip or a concussion. To help your elderly parent avoid falls, you first need to know where falls are most likely to occur. While most of us know that we have to be careful on the ice or uneven ground, most falls occur in the home and in areas where your parent travels every day. In the Home While stairs are always a big concern, just because your parent’s place of residence doesn’t have stairs, it doesn’t mean he won’t trip and fall. Here are the most common areas in a home where falls occur when stairs aren’t involved: Living rooms (31 percent of falls) Bedrooms (30 percent) Kitchens (19 percent) Bathrooms (13 percent) Hallways (10 percent) As you review these areas in your parent’s home, look for obvious tripping hazards, such as loose rugs, items piled on the floor (like shoes by a door), and cords that run across floors. Some of these things we see so often and are so used to navigating around, that we stop actually seeing them. A good idea is if you have elder care providers coming to your residence to help your parent. Ask them to assess what they see as possible tripping hazards. A fresh pair of eyes can help you see things in a new light. If stairs are part of your elderly parent’s living quarters, then you’ll want to make sure each set of steps has a sturdy handrail (or two), good lighting, and solid steps without any uneven flooring. Your parent will need to turn on the lights for the stairs, both from the top and the bottom. Illuminate the path by placing small night lights on each step. In the Community After in-home falls, the most common type of falls occurs outside the home and in the community. About thirty percent of falls happen in places like sidewalks, shopping areas, and other indoor areas. Have someone join your parent for trips out, like an elder care provider. This can help her avoid some falls by having an arm to hold onto and another pair of eyes to see if there is something on the ground that should be avoided. In Healthcare Centers Finally, about 10 percent of falls happen in healthcare centers, such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers. If your parent has a trip to the doctor or clinic, then have an escort. For instance, an elder care provider can help her navigate unknown areas. This will prevent tripping or stumbling over an unexpected step or change in flooring. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Elder 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.

Nobody likes feeling lonely, but most individuals find their social life begins to dwindle as they become older. This may lead to chronic loneliness, which has been related to various physical and mental health issues, such as heart disease, depression, and dementia. Whether you are companion care at home or a family member trying to help your loved one, these tips are for you. Here are some innovative methods you may use to help seniors overcome loneliness and lower their risk of these health conditions while they are still healthy enough to enjoy them. Companion care at home is one of the best things for a senior, but these other tips will go a long way too. Invite a Senior Friend Over Bringing a buddy over is a terrific strategy to alleviate chronic loneliness in the elders you care for. This may be someone from your neighborhood, a member of your church, or even a family member. Spending time with others will take their mind off of their loneliness and make the time fly by. Someone else will be there to chat with and share their innermost feelings. Encourage Them to Start or Join an Activity Group Joining or joining an activity group is an excellent strategy for seniors to prevent chronic loneliness. It takes them out of the home and allows them to connect with others daily. It also provides them something to look forward to every week. Book clubs, strolling groups, and knitting circles are all examples of activity groups. There are several options! Go To or Create a Community Garden Community gardens are an excellent approach for elders to prevent chronic loneliness. They offer a gathering spot for individuals to interact, while also enjoying some exercise and fresh air. Gardening is also a terrific way to unwind and de-stress. Gardening has also been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and depression, according to research. Consider creating your own communal garden if you have the room! Go Online for Virtual Connections and Relationships Seniors can build connections online in various ways. One option is to join an online group or forum related to their interests. This may offer them a virtual environment to connect with people who share their interests. Furthermore, online communities may provide a sense of belonging and support, which can help alleviate feelings of loneliness. If someone isn’t feeling up to face-to-face encounters, internet groups enable them to socialize at their own pace. Consider a Pet for Seniors A companion animal may give the affection and company that elders need. Animals may also help reduce anxiety and loneliness. If you’re thinking of obtaining a companion animal for a senior, do your homework first. Some animals demand more attention than others, and not all seniors are capable of taking on that task. However, if you believe a companion animal is appropriate for a lonely senior in your life, there are several options available. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Companion Care at Home in Glendale , CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today at (888) 989-7388.

You’ve heard a lot about taking care of yourself, so that you have the mental and physical energy left to help your dad. But one area you’re not doing well in is having time to yourself. It’s time to make sure you’re practicing self-care. Leave an hour each day to do something on your own. Reading is a convenient and easy hobby to pick up, and it doesn’t have to cost much. September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month. If you’re not a patron of your local library. It’s time to explore why you want to go to your library, sign up, and get your dad to sign up simultaneously, so that he can enjoy the benefits. Free Book Loans As a library card holder, you can borrow books as much as you want. Even better, if your dad has a tablet or e-reader, he can borrow digital copies and have access to the books he wants to read without having to leave his home. Libraries contain various genres, so your dad always finds something to read. He might want to head to the mysteries or choose a fantasy novel. There are children’s books, if he has grandchildren or great-grandchildren he can read to. Books aren’t the only things libraries loan. They may have magazines, newspapers, DVDs, and audio books for lending. If he has a hard time reading due to his vision, he can check out audio books and let the speaker read to him. Discount Passes Libraries have more than books for their patrons. Most also have discount passes to area attractions. Your dad could go to the local art museum for free or at a steep discount. Many libraries have free passes to state parks to use the trails, beaches, and picnic areas for free. He may also find there are free or discounted passes for area zoos, aquariums, and seasonal attractions. Most libraries have family passes, so your dad could check a pass out and enjoy spending the day with you and his grandchildren. Social Events Libraries often hold social events throughout the year. The calendar varies, but your dad may find there are book groups, gardening clubs, genealogy programs, and birdwatching clubs. It gives him the opportunity to meet with others in his community and enjoy spending time together doing something that interests him. Does he need help to do his annual income taxes? Libraries often host tax preparation workshops where he can have a professional help him do his taxes for free. Leave yourself time for self-care by working with an in-home care specialist. Have caregivers spend time with your dad each day. While he’s being helped by an in-home care aide, get things done so that you have an hour free at the end of the day. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring In-Home Care in Glendale , CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today at (888) 989-7388.

Having a stroke can be a strong fear for both an aging parent and an adult child providing care for their parent. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel breaks. That event can damage or kill cells in the brain. Stroke can cause brain damage and is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in adults. As you care for your parent, you probably want to help your parent do whatever is needed to avoid a stroke. While there is no guarantee, there are several steps you can take to help reduce your parent’s chance of having a stroke. These are changes he can make personally, your family can help implement, or even his home care assistance provider can help encourage and reinforce. Keep his blood pressure under control. The leading risk factor in having a stroke is high blood pressure. High blood pressure doesn’t always have any symptoms, so your parent must regularly check his blood pressure. If your home care assistance provider provides rides to doctor appointments, ask your home care assistance provider to remind your parent to check his pressure with each visit. If your parent has high blood pressure, then he may get prescribed some medication. Taking that medication regularly will keep his blood pressure under control, along with some diet changes. He may need some help and/or encouragement from you or his home care assistance provider to ensure he takes his medication as needed and avoids foods that elevate blood pressure. Quit Smoking Smoking has been shown to increase blood pressure. Your parent doubles his risk for a stroke by smoking. Whether he receives his nicotine from cigarettes or vaping, nicotine raises blood pressure, and carbon monoxide in smoke lowers the amount of oxygen his blood can carry. For those taking care of your aging parent, breathing in that secondhand smoke may increase their chances of a stroke. Reduce alcohol intake Too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, and binge drinking (having more than 5 drinks within a two-hour time span), can trigger an irregular heartbeat. Men should try to keep their alcohol intake to no more than two drinks a day. For women, it should be one or less. Get some Exercise Not getting regular exercise can lead to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol – all of which can increase the risk of a stroke in your elderly parent. If your parent isn’t used to getting daily exercise, start small. Encourage him to get 30-minutes of exercise a day. He doesn’t even have to do it all at once. He can surely do two 15-minute sessions. Have your parent take a few short walks a day. He can walk with his home care assistance provider, which is certainly a great way to get active. Eat better Encourage your parent to stay away from high-fat foods and stick with a healthier diet. To sum up, a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables. All these changes can certainly help your parent reduce his risk of stroke. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care Assistance in West Hollywood , CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today at (888) 989-7388.

One of the best ways seniors maintain good health as they age is to develop healthy habits. When seniors practice healthy habits daily, they are much more likely to have good health for a more extended period as they age. Engaging in healthy habits will also help seniors be happier as they get older, and happiness matters as much as staying healthy does. If your senior parent is aging at home and you want to help them stay healthy encourage them to try forming some of these strongly recommended healthy habits: Go For A Walk Daily Seniors need exercise. The more seniors move, the healthier they will be. Walking is one of the best ways for seniors to exercise because almost any senior can do it. All your senior parent needs to do is walk to dramatically improve their health. Strenuous workouts and trendy exercises are not necessary. All seniors need to do is a 30-minute walk every day to see significant health benefits. Of course, the more exercise seniors do, the healthier they will be. But getting in the habit of taking a 30-minute walk each day can work wonders for a senior’s health. Eat Veggies At Every Meal Seniors need to eat more vegetables. Most seniors don’t eat enough food, especially vegetables. To keep things simple, it’s a good idea for seniors to include veggies at every meal. Elder care for seniors can help ensure that seniors eat healthy meals, including veggies. There are many ways that seniors can incorporate at least one vegetable into every meal. There are also a lot of cookbooks and recipe sites that can help seniors and their elder care providers come up with fun new meal ideas to try. Drink More Water Studies indicate as many as 50% of all seniors are dehydrated. Seniors should drink a glass of water every 1-2 hours or whenever they feel thirsty. But some seniors don’t recognize their thirst cues because of medical conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Others may take medications or have medical conditions that make them thirsty and give them a dry mouth. Remind your senior loved ones to drink water regularly throughout the day to get the necessary water to stay healthy. Sports drinks are also a good option for seniors, who might need to replenish their electrolytes. Just make sure there’s no sugar in the sports drink. Go To Bed Early  Getting enough sleep is critical for good health, and most seniors don’t get enough sleep. Seniors should be going to bed in enough time to give themselves 8-10 hours of restful sleep. But even if seniors go to bed early, they might have trouble falling or staying asleep. Medications, medical conditions, stress, and anxiety can result in sleeplessness for seniors. Finding out why your senior loved one isn’t getting restful sleep can give you the information you need to get your loved one whatever help they need to sleep. If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Elder Care in Burbank , CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today at (888) 989-7388.

Nutritional needs change with age and gender. An individual’s dietary needs change with time, and the foods and drinks that make up a balanced diet may need to be adjusted. Some meals may need less of you, while others will require more. The nutritional needs of older males and females vary; therefore, men and women of a similar age will have distinct eating patterns. However, if you currently consume a balanced diet, your eating habits are not likely to change significantly as you get older. It’s essential to pay attention to your body’s changing nutritional demands as you age and make adjustments to your diet appropriately. When an elderly person cannot prepare healthy meals alone, it is time to implement a 24-hour home care service . If you cannot be there for your elderly loved one, 24-hour home care is available. To maintain excellent health, paying attention to what you drink and what you eat is essential. Antioxidant-rich beverages are a viable option that may help fill in the gaps in one’s diet. In recent research, people with greater blood levels of antioxidants were shown to have a reduced risk of dementia. Antioxidants such as vitamins like C and E and beta-carotene have long been recognized to shield cells from illness; new research adds brain protection to that list. The good news is that it is easier than you would think to include more antioxidant-rich foods in your diet or the diet of someone you care about. Antioxidant drinks are a fast, pleasant, and simple alternative to eating more fruits and vegetables to meet nutritional needs. What Are Antioxidants? Some foods include antioxidants, which shield cells from damaging free radicals. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and eye illnesses, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, are all linked to oxidative stress. Diets high in antioxidants have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic disease and increase life expectancy. You won’t get the same health advantages from taking vitamin or antioxidant supplements as you would from consuming foods naturally rich in these substances. Sometimes, too much of a good thing may be bad, and that’s the case with antioxidant pills.   Why Should Antioxidants Be Included in a Seniors Diet? Research has indicated that the elderly are at a greater risk for oxidative stress than younger ones. Because of this, it is even more crucial to ensure the health of the elderly by using antioxidants. Antioxidants are beneficial in many ways, including reducing the risk of illness and increasing physical performance. A senior’s general health may be enhanced by antioxidants, leading to a longer, more fulfilling life.   Use Antioxidant Drinks  Not all seniors can eat or chew a lot, and that’s okay; there are still options to add antioxidants into their diet. Drinks are especially useful when this happens and may help keep them hydrated. Antioxidant-rich beverages are a simple method to improve the health of your loved ones. The usual suspects, such as orange juice and carrot juice, are a good place to start.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring 24-Hour Home Care in Studio City, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388