Tag Archive for: Elderly Care in Dallas TX

We’re modernizing the process of setting up and managing care as well as improving upon communication between families, Care Professionals, and our Support Team.

Technology and Care that makes a difference.

Caregivers will be able to list their qualifications, skills, hours they’re able to work and distances they’re willing travel. Seniors will specify the type of help they need, the hours they want and important personal details – that they only speak Spanish, or that they have dogs, or that they live in a senior living community. Approved will match caregivers and seniors accordingly, with final approval of the match in the hands of the seniors and their families.

Approved will also give seniors a custom-built, easy-to-use internet portal where staff and families can view any changes in the senior’s needs or condition, so the caregivers will be better prepared when they walk in the door. Our portals and telephony system will also be used to record what services seniors received and for how long. Authorized relatives will have access to the information, so they’ll be able to monitor the situation.

We do things differently…

Approved family portal.

We’re modernizing the process of setting up and managing care as well as improving upon communication between families, Care Professionals, and our Support Team. Of course, our Care Pros are amazing. We make sure of that. Get to know your Caregiver. See when they arrive, what they help with, and when they leave.

Know who’s coming and when.

Caregivers you can trust. We interview and thoroughly screen every care professional before they can become an Approved Qualified Caregiver. Only the best meet our standards. Approved not only verifies skills, training, and references, we also look for people who are compassionate, caring, and bring joy to their work. View your caregiver’s picture & schedule before they arrive.

Schedule care quickly.

Request care on our website or call us, and a Care Pro can be there in just 2 hours. Schedule care visits by the hour, pay by the hour. It’s that simple. Our pricing is as variable as your needs.

Always informed. Always in touch.

Any special conditions?

Food preferences?

Allergies?
Approved keeps your Care Pro informed so they can provide great care, exactly the way you like it. You and your Care Pro can stay in touch about every step of your Care Plan, including scheduled visits, tasks, and goals.

972.658.4001 

Help for Understanding the Zika Virus

We care about you and your family’s health and safety. We want to make sure you are informed and know what to do to prevent catching the Zika virus.

The best source of information to stay current on Zika is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Zika website

Public health organizations in the U.S. and around the world are concerned about the recent, rapid spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), cases of the Zika virus are now showing up in the United States as people travel to and from places where the virus is widespread. There is also concern that the virus will spread to more areas in the warm months when there are more mosquitoes.

What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus

  • Individuals infected by the Zika virus usually have mild symptoms, or may not be aware they have the virus. The most common symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes), and can include muscle pain and headaches.
  • Symptoms typically begin 2 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
  • Only about 1 in 5 people infected with the virus will get sick. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. Severe illness requiring hospitalization is uncommon.
  • There is no current vaccine or medications available to prevent or treat the Zika infection, but your doctor may order blood tests to confirm you have the virus. And if you have the virus, your doctor will be able to tell you how to best treat the symptoms.

Transmission
Knowing how the Zika virus is spread is important in keeping you and your family healthy and protected from the virus.

  • People usually get the virus from mosquito bites. It can spread when a mosquito bites a person that already has the virus, and then spreads it to other people through bites.
  • The mosquitoes that are known to spread the virus most often bite during the day, but also may bite at night.
  • The virus may also be spread by having unprotected sex with an infected person or by blood transfusion.
  • Health officials are concerned that the Zika virus is also being spread from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby during pregnancy. They are seeing an unusual number of cases of mothers having the Zika virus and their babies being born with birth defects. The most serious one is microcephaly, a birth defect that includes an abnormally small head and brain, as well as other impairments.

Prevention
Understanding how the virus is transmitted can help you protect yourself, your family and your community.

  • To reduce the chance of being bitten by a mosquito, and to help control the spread of the virus, it is recommended that you use an EPA-recommended insect repellent including DEET. But make sure to only use insect repellents on children older than two months of age.
  • It is important for pregnant women to take extra precautions in order to protect their unborn child. Read CDC’s recommendations for pregnant women.

“Pregnant women should realize that the transmission of the Zika virus to the fetus has been documented at all trimesters. As with any infection, the best course of action relies around prevention. If you think you may have been exposed, you should see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist as soon as possible, ” said Joseph R. Cunningham, M.D., Divisional Senior Vice President of Health Care Delivery and Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, and OB/GYN physician.

Treatment
If you believe you have been infected, or develop symptoms, you should seek help from your doctor. Be sure to tell your doctor if and where you have travelled recently. A health professional is the best source to determine if you have been infected with the virus and how to treat the symptoms. While there is no vaccine or medicine for Zika, currently, as recommended by the CDC, symptoms can be treated by:

  • Getting plenty of rest
  • Drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
  • Taking medicine to reduce fever and pain
  • Not taking aspirin or non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Talking to your doctor before taking medicine for any other condition while sick

Resources
For the most up-to-date information on Zika, visit these resources:

Approved Fall female picElderly are at risk of falling and not being able to get help.  And most seniors cannot get up off of the floor after falling.  Falling leads to a hospital stay or worse, even death.  For your aging parent, have you improved the chances of them not falling at home? Have you done a home safety check? Many aging homes in Dallas, Plano, Carrollton, Lewisville, Frisco, Highland Park, Allen, and McKinney are in denial of the visible safety concerns in clear sight.  It is important to remove floor runners, electrical cords, replace smoke detectors, install hand rails, have a first aid kit, and create an emergency preparedness plan.

Having a clear open walkway is important to be able to move a walker, cane, or wheel care through a safe path, so furniture may need to be move.  Consider getting an in home caregiver to be able to help your parent daily, and check in on them to be sure they are doing well.  We have experienced caregivers who can encourage your parent to make safe choices.

Another way to improve senior safety is purchasing one of our medical alarms. Our medical alert product is a small emergency button that can be worn under the shirt, and pushed when needed to get immediate help.  Our state of the art waterproof button is small and light weight and very comfortable to wear.  When the button is pushed, our emergency button operates up to 600 feet in your home.  It is very affordable to have year round.  And, if pushed, the button is answered by a trained medical technician that can get assistance immediately, and notify help to check on the senior who is in crisis.

What’s so sad is many seniors wait for a fall and hospitalization before they realize that a button could have saved them from pain and suffering.

One senior we met, Gerald, fell and got stuck behind his headboard. Gerald was surprised he could fit in that spot! After a brief hospital stay, he decided he needed a button to wear to prevent future ordeals, and Gerald gave us a call since his facility recommended our light weight medical alarm.  Another elderly lady we met, Edna, was stuck in her bathtub for over a day before she got our button.  The story was a neighbor had not seen Edna get her mail for the past day, started banging on her door, and with Edna yelling from the tub, her neighbor called 911 to get help. Edna now wears our affordable button 24/7 to prevent future accidents that can happen so easily in the bathroom for elderly residents.  Her senior neighbor, Betty called us for a button as well, and we have been keeping them both safe and secure for now the past 2 years.

The most challenging client to get a button was for my mother, Elva Jo.  She did not think she needed a button, even though her Doctor had told her she was a clear fall risk.  I insisted she had to wear the medical alert button, and I installed it myself.  Surprisingly, the next day, Mom fell for the first time after company had left a chair pulled out farther in her walking path after she had said good-bye.  She could not get up off of the floor, so she pushed her button and asked our friendly alarm operator to call the fire department to come over and help her get up off of the floor.  They checked her out, she had a nasty bruise, but no broken bones, thank goodness.  She was so glad to have her button, and a caring son who insisted that she wore her medical alarm at all times.

Well the truth is after falling, the longer the senior remains on the floor, the more inflammation sets in, dehydration, and possible internal bleeding.

That delay increases the hospital and rehabilitation stay for your elderly loved one.  In fact, getting up after a fall quickly can reduce the possibility of hospitalization by as much as 27%.

Statistics also report 50% of the elderly who fall, need another person for assistance to be able to get back up. It is also reported that receiving help quickly can prevent death by as much as 81%.  Many seniors fear falling, and our alarm button gives peace of mind to the senior and family member that help is available.  Not to mention, if you had one of our in home care givers, our care would greatly improve wellness.  Give us a call at (972) 658-4001 and we would love to come out to meet you and discuss care options.

We do our best when providing elderly care, to get our loved one out and about. Seniors can become lonely and depressed hanging around the house day after day. Traveling with an elder can sometimes be a challenge depending upon their health condition. The following tips will help you and your elderly loved one embark upon a successful journey.

1. Planning ahead – Planning is necessary for successful traveling and involves much more than finding the cheapest rates. Elderly care providers must do their research to ensure a smooth trip.

2. Reserve special services – Request and reserve seating arrangements in the areas designated for disabled travelers. Request wheelchair service at the airport and dietary needs when aboard.

3. Proper Documentation – Passports are considered the highest form of identification by the federal TSA security. The process of obtaining a passport can take several months so consider applying in advance. It is also a good idea to have copies of prescriptions and medical conditions from the elder’s physician.

If an elderly loved one is traveling alone, make sure they are prepared with documentation. Besides having copies of the prescriptions and medical statements, make at least four copies of their passport, driver’s license, Medicare and insurance cards, itinerary, travel tickets, and boarding pass, if received in advance. Keep a copy in the elder’s carry bag, one in their luggage, one at home, and forward a copy to friends or family at the destination of arrival.

4. Prepare those on the receiving end of the elder – If your loved one is traveling solo to visit friends or other family members, make sure that they are prepared to handle the elder’s needs. Don’t assume that they know or will take initiative to know what is best. Discuss topics such as health conditions, food, medications, exercise, and activities.

5. Tours and cruises – These travel options are planned in advanced and offer a unique service with staff experienced at helping the elderly follow their promised program. Several tours employ staff who specialize in assisting those with special needs or disabilities.

You should go over the travel plan and itinerary again with your loved one on the day of travel. Allow plenty of time to get to the airport or other form of transportation. Arriving 2 hours before departure is recommended. This will eliminate the stress of being rushed and allow you to reassure the elder of the plan.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Dallas, TX, contact Approved Home Care at 972-658-4001 today.

Approved Home Care Dallas