What is “Aging in Place”? Elder Care in Dallas, TX

What is “Aging in Place”?  Elder Care in Dallas, TX

The universe of senior care is filled with terms that may be unfamiliar and conflicting. If you have determined that you are providing in home care for your loved one or if you are looking for appropriate senior care options, it is important that you understand elder care terminology. This will help you to make informed, appropriate decisions for your senior.

A very common term used in the senior care industry is “Aging in Place”. This is generally used to describe care that will allow seniors to remain in their own home, or in the home of a family member, while receiving elder care. This tern is used to describe senior care services that are an viable alternative to moving into a nursing home, assisted living facility, group home or other senior care facility. Aging in place is about the smooth transition and comfort senior enjoy by living in familiar surroundings and avoid unnecessary disruptions in their lifestyle. Most seniors prefer to remain in their own homes, surrounded by the family and home to which they are accustomed.  There are many services, such as “Approved Home Care”, that will allow them to remain at home and Age in Place.

The option of Aging in Place is appropriate choice for a wide variety of the elderly community. In the past many thought that in home care for seniors was only available to the healthiest or wealthiest. Now a large portion of seniors are able to remain in their own homes. It is now possibility for a much wider array of the elderly to enjoy the comfort and independence of remaining in their own homes throughout the remainder of their life. Many of the seniors who have chosen to age in place will need ongoing care and assistance.  In Home Care will allow them to receive help with activities of daily life.  Managing a household and coordinating medical concerns can be a daunting task.  To assists with these and other issues many seniors are taking advantage of in home care services to provide assistance.

If your aging loved one has expressed interest in aging in place, don’t hesitate to contact the elder care referral services agency in your area to learn more about this concept and make elder care decisions that will help your loved one meet your needs and goals.

If you have a family member who could benefit from assistance by a caregiver that is trained to provide elder care services in Dallas, TX contact the staff at Approved Home Care. We help seniors and their families remain independent in the place they call home. Call (972) 658-4001 for more information.

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Do Your Parents Need A Caregiver in Dallas, TX?

Many seniors can live independently, and many can handle the activities of daily life quite well. However, as they age, things will change and they will need care and assistance to remain independent. There will need a helping hand, someone to check on them and help with the more difficult activities. How will you know that it is time, to discuss with your parents, that they need a caregiver?

Does Your Parents Need A Caregiver in Dallas, TX?

If your parents are able to remain in their own home, they may only need a few hours of care 3 or 4 time as week.  If there need is greater, they may want a live-in caregiver so that they have assistance available 24 hours a day.  A caregiver can provide the ability to continue to live in the comfort and familiarity of their own home.

Most seniors will have a hard time deciding to call you and admit that they are having difficulty living on their own and that they need help.  You will need to be proactive and determine how thing should be handled and then being a “Soft Approach” to introducing a caregiver into their life.  Caregivers in Dallas, TX are available to assist your parents as they age.

When does your parent need a caregiver?

Safety – Your loved one may be healthy, but not safe.  Your parent’s general health may not be question; however you are concerned about their memory.  You may get the feeling that they are not safe when driving their car, or they may have been an incident where they “forgot” and left the stove turned on.

Alzheimer’s or Dementia – Early stages of Alzheimer’s can affect more than just memory. It can also affect proper judgment and the ability to make good decisions. Tasks can become more and more difficult. Driving, cooking, general household tasks and medication management can become difficult and even dangerous.

Physical Impairment or Sickness – While some aspects of aging are very manageable, like diabetes. As Diabetes become more debilitating, it can affect eyesight, making driving, cleaning and cooking dangerous. Other diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, COPD and incontinences issues will require assistance from a Caregiver in Dallas, TX.

Personal Hygiene and Depression – Depression is a common and serious issue for seniors.  Steps can be taken to relieve the depression issue many senior will face.  Personal hygiene and depression can indicate other serious underlying problems that may be occurring. Alzheimer’s should be looked into as a possible cause.  Consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Overwhelming Family Members – Most family members are not equipped to care for their loved ones.  The stresses and demand of their daily lives prevent them from dedicating the time necessary to properly care for their parents.  Elderly parents can sink into depression when they can no longer care for themselves and many are worried about becoming a burden to their families. Make sure that you have taken action and prepared a plan to care for your parents.

Home care can provide comfort and the peace of mind both the senior and their family need.

If you have a loved one who could benefit from elder care services in Dallas, TX contact Approved Home Care at (972) 658-4001. We help seniors and their families with home care services for the elderly. Call (972) 658-4001 for more information.

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Caregiving From a Distance

Far from Mom and Dad?

Many of my friends in the plus 40 crowd tell me about their ongoing challenges in dealing with their aging parents.  One friend, Cindy, in particular told me yesterday…

“You are blessed, ” she said, “if your parents are still living. If you are truly blessed, your parents live nearby.”

Cindy is blessed, but she misses being truly blessed because her parents live in Dallas.   One move after another, Cindy’s parents moved from Anchorage to Dallas, with a daughter in Seattle and son in Quebec. No one was close-by to check in on them and help with daily chores.

Cindy’s parents are in their late 80s.  Her parents are typical, and have lost friends to moves into nursing homes, assisted living, and sadly, some have passed away.   Her parents still prefer living in their own home (blessed), but without needed care, nearby (not-so-blessed).

The National Institute on Aging has concluded there may be approximately 7 million long-distance caregivers within our borders.  Somehow, thru random life events, the children find themselves far away from aging parents or loved ones who could benefit from family assistance.

So the question is what can you do to support parents or elderly friends who are not in close proximity?

How do others solve this problem?

The first step is to lay out a clear direction of what are the top priorities. It is possible, you may be able to bring up this subject directly with your parent or loved one (extremely blessed); however, don’t have that expectation, because most elderly parents are in denial of their current situation.

Cindy’s parents avoided talking with her about their concerns because of the distance.   They did not want to worry her, or be a burden. They would minimize their problems and say, “No need to worry about us. We are doing just fine!”  Soon a crisis came along, requiring a hospital stay and rehab after a fall.  Now, she calls her parents at least a few times a week and she has learned to ask more pressing questions.

Caring for your family is a team concept, so build a quality team.  For Cindy, this meant coordinating with her siblings, parent’s neighbors, and church friends, and determine who would call, visit, and who would check in on them.  Also, someone was needed to coordinate their legal paperwork.

It is important to match people to their talents, and understand that some will participate more diligently than others.  If a sibling lives far away, and is good exploring the internet, that person could conduct internet searches and pinpoint resources in your parent’s area.  They may also be able to find information on specific diagnosis from medical web sites.

If someone is talented with finances, they may be able to discuss with your parents about available assets, long term care needs, and assist them with bills. If your parents have used a CPA in the past, some services offer bill paying to keep the payments current and to ensure the proper amount is being paid.  Cindy discovered her mother frequently got checks sent back to her for overpayment issues.

If you are the only team member or you are overwhelmed with how to proceed, you may be able to find companies in your parent’s local area that will provide professional in home caregivers to help.

Understand that siblings will need to clarify boundaries with your parents early on.  Discuss how much can they afford to do?  How committed is each team member? Are you emotionally prepared to place your parents as the priority? Can you travel? How is your professional life going to be affected? How are your spouse and children going to feel?

Plan in advance on what has to be done to make an emergency visit.  Discuss this possibility with your boss and investigate travel options.  Lay out who and what you will need to have with you.  Cindy and her brother work for large corporations and have the benefit of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).   However, you may not have this same benefit working for a small company.

As soon as possible, locate all of your parent’s important legal documents and gather in one place.  Make sure someone has permission to get financial and medical power of attorney.  Keep financial, medical, insurance, bank and military information at your fingertips.  Keep current on all parent medications with an updated list, including dosage, and check with the Doctor if you are concerned of excess medication. Once accomplished, added administrative tasks helping your parents will happen with greater ease.

Take a break

As with Cindy’s parents, one is healthier than the other, and her father has become the primary caregiver.  Cindy knows that it is essential for her Dad to get a break.  Cindy has hired a professional caregiver to come 4 hours a day to care for her Mom and let her Dad be able to play cards and golf with his friends. Cindy has decided to use Approved Home Care for caregivers since they are a licensed, insured, and bonded and have an excellent reputation.

As a long-distance caregiver, you can also help pay for respite care to offer relief for household help and then you can enjoy having fun with them when you arrive for a visit.

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Holiday Depression and Seniors

Most of us think about pleasant celebrations and gatherings with family members and friends during the holidays, but for many seniors, ’tis the season for sadness, loneliness and even depression.

There are many reasons for these feelings. In some cases, the holidays remind seniors of those no longer living with whom they have shared holidays in the past. Widows and widowers – or seniors without close family connections or a good network of friends – may have a particularly difficult time.

If you are a senior who is having a difficult time this holiday season, or if you know a senior who may be experiencing loneliness or depression, following are some tips that may help lighten the mood.

Celebrate with others. Make an effort to get together with family members or friends. If this is not possible, join a group of seniors or go to a celebration at church or another community organization.

Volunteer your time. Studies have shown that people who donate their time to help others reap valuable rewards. Sign up to help cook or serve meals to the homeless, adopt a family for the holidays or organize or contribute to a toy or food drive.

Don’t hide your feelings. Many seniors try to conceal their sadness during the holiday season because they don’t want to put a damper on other people’s festivities or joy. But it’s important to talk about your feelings. Remember that most people will appreciate the opportunity to listen and help.

Don’t spend too much money. Many people, including seniors, try to make up for feelings of emptiness during the holidays by overspending. This will not work, and it may even backfire when you get the bill at the end of the month. Besides, the best gifts are from the heart, not the pocketbook.

Go for a walk. Exercise is incredibly beneficial to both the body and the mind. It improves balance, gait and flexibility; enlivens the brain; and provides cardiac and pulmonary benefits. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, which positively affect mood and act as an antidepressant. You should maintain the level of exercise intensity recommended for you based on your medical history.

Catch some rays. Light therapy is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), sometimes called “winter depression.” Try going outdoors during the daytime when the sun is out or keeping your home environment bright. Talk to your doctor about which SAD lamps are most beneficial.

Try to avoid alcohol. Many seniors rely on alcohol more after retirement or the loss of a loved one, but alcohol is a depressant and may increase feelings of loneliness or sadness.

Eat a balanced diet. In general, malnutrition and dehydration are common in seniors. Especially during the holidays, seniors may feel sad and not want to eat. To feel good, you must eat a diet consisting of lean meats, whole grains and five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. On the flip side, you should also resist the urge to overeat during the holidays. Gaining too much weight may lead to diabetes, heart disease or other serious medical conditions.

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6 Important Tips

Six Ways to Talk to Your Parents About Getting Help at Home

It can be difficult to realize the fact that your parents may need assistance and help with day-to-day activities, and it can be a struggle  hiring a professional caregiver for help. Your loved one may react to this decision with some reluctance. When you discuss the subject of an in home caregiver, use patience and tact. Following are some points to keep in mind that can help you have a more successful conversation with your parent.

Below are some tips, based on experience with families facing these struggles,   that will help guide you to a productive conversation with your parent:

1. List advantages.

Create an atmosphere that a quality in home caregiver is desirable to your loved one. List benefits  and the positive impact that hiring a caregiver for your parent may be: explain how living at home is more desirable than moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home.  When seniors remain at home; in-home care is often less costly; they will receive a higher level of attention whit in home senior care.

2. Independence should be a focus of the conversation.

Explain about the benefits of a in home caregiver,  and how your loved one will continue to enjoy their independence in their own home. Has your loved one already fallen? Help them understand the consequences of a serious fall – how it could lead to hospitalization and surgery, followed by a lengthy recovery period and limited independence. The same process could be used if they forget to take their medications, forget important events or miss doctor appointments.

3. Try various approaches.

Try suggesting to your parent that in-home care would benefit their spouse. They may be more open to accepting the care for their loved one, even if in reality, it both parents will benefit from the care. If parent lives alone,  discuss concerns or activities that are most important to them. Your parent express that they do not need help,  however they may be consider allowing someone helping with housekeeping and meal preparation.

4. Make it about other family members.

Explain to your parent how much you worry about them. Or if you have been a caregiver explain that the additional time and responsibilities too much and that you are taking time away from your children and career duties. 55 percent of Americans say being a burden on their family is issue that weighs heavily on their mind. When approaching your parent about accepting in-home help, you might say, “I worry about you…and even if you tell me I shouldn’t, it is something that concerns me. Please consider  having someone come in once a week, even if it is just for me?”

5. Mitigate fear.

An senior can act negatively towards a caregiver at times, but this action is most likely out of fear. Prior to attempting to overcoming this fear, it is important to understand it. Senior often fear loosing their independence, lack of control and and financial worries. The presence of a stranger in the home will sometimes leave the senior feeling vulnerable. Take this into, do not respond with frustration, be  empathetic. Understand how your own emotions may be influencing the conversation. Make sure to choose an appropriate time and place for these discussions.

6. Test it out on a trial-basis.

Use a professional caregiver for in-home assistance on a short-term basis, or recovery care, after a hospital stay. This will show your loved one that having a caregiver is not something to fear.   This positive experience can often leads to them being open to ongoing care.

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Scams Targeting Seniors

Seniors are often prime targets for scam artists because sometimes older adults might not realize they have been scammed, or they don’t speak up because they are ashamed or worried that it might be a sign of mental incompetence.

To help protect yourself and your loved one, get familiar with these typical scams:

1. Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Scams

Beware of bogus tests offered at shopping centers or health clubs that will then be billed to your insurance. Also, prescription drugs ordered over the internet might not be medication at all.

2. Funeral and Cemetery Fraud

A casket or embalming are not requirements for direct cremation, but some funeral homes may try to convince you that they are. Disreputable cemeteries may try to sell plots that are already taken.

3. Telemarketing Scams

Phone calls that promise vacations, deep discounts on medical supplies, or large prizes are often used by cons who want credit card numbers or bank account numbers. Once they have them, they can steal large amounts of money and claim it was legitimate.

4. Empty Promises of Cures

Products that promise cures for serious medical problems prey on vulnerability and hope, ensuring something that is simply too good to be true. If a “secret formula” seems too good to be true, it probably is.

5. Investment Scams

If high returns are “guaranteed” or you have to pay a fee up-front to obtain information, beware! Investment schemes always show “proof” of individuals who have earned great dividends, but as the scheme plays out, those who are snared later wind up losing money.

How to Avoid Scams

  • Invest your money only with reputable firms and deal with them in person.
  • Never accept “free” medical equipment from anyone other than your physician.
  • Always purchase drugs from a reputable pharmacy, and inspect the labeling every time.
  • When making advance funeral arrangements, shop around for the best deal.
  • If it sounds too good to be true, don’t purchase it!
  • Don’t be pressured into signing anything.
  • Don’t listen to threats from telemarketers. If they are too aggressive or even too friendly, say goodbye and hang up the phone.
  • Never give personal or banking information over the phone.

In-home Care Is Another Option

Many seniors rely on their in-home caregivers to handle aggressive telemarketers, help them avoid suspicious people, or just act as a skeptical sounding board. To find an in-home care service that could help protect your loved one, contact us for more information (972) 658-4001.

If you have any questions, please give me a call. My direct number is (972) 658-4001 or contact us.

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Is your Mom or Dad in Pain?

It is common for pain to be untreated or even unrecognized in seniors.  This can be exacerbated for elderly who have a limited ability to communicate. Up to 80% of seniors experience pain, for many this results in unnecessary suffering.

If you suspect pain, you notice changes in:

  • Labored and noisy breathing.  When pain increases, breathing may become rapid with short breaths.
  • You may notices  changes in body language such as sudden restlessness, pacing or sleeplessness. Hostility, aggressiveness and,  lashing our physically is frequent sign of more severe pain.
  • More intense or severe the pain the less likely your loved one will calm down with reassurance or comforting touch.
  • Soft moans or groansis the most obvious signals and can escalate to yelling when there is intense pain.
  • Facial expression-indicate your loved one is experiencing pain.

Caring for someone who is unable communicate well requires extra attention or awareness for all of us.

Approved Home Care, provides non-medical care and support for seniors.  We provide compassionate care and assistance in a private residence, hospital, rehab, assisted living, retirement home or health care facility. We offer packages including: dependable and affordable in-home assistance, care, companionship, homemaking, and errand services.

If you have any questions, please give me a call. My direct number is (972) 658-4001.

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