With many home care agencies, you never know who’s going to turn up on a San Antonio senior’s doorstep each day of their scheduled care. But what this means is that seniors never have the opportunity to trust, bond and form a friendship with their senior caregivers. At Home Instead Senior Care, we know that the right caregiver is one that a senior can get to know, begin to trust with their home and their care, and someone who will become an important companion. Every day a senior has home care scheduled, we send the same caregiver to provide consistency and because through our process we ensure that the caregiver sent is one that meshes with the senior’s personal needs and personality.

When we send a new caregiver to a senior’s home for the first time, we complete an in-depth assessment to evaluate the needs of the senior and the type of caregiver who would be best suited for the role. However, just because a senior has been sent a caregiver, doesn’t mean that they’re stuck with them forever. If a senior or their family is not satisfied with the caregiver, we will be happy to send a replacement that better meets the request.

Once the right caregiver has been matched with a senior, you’ll never be able to separate them!

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

For San Antonio seniors who are able to live independently at home, even with the help of a home caregiver, their home can be a major source of pride. With many seniors moving into assisted living facilities or nursing homes, and other older adults believing that they may follow the same fate, seniors love it when they’re able to say that they live at home. Encouraging seniors to take pride in their homes is a great way to distract from the physical decline that comes with aging, and helps them better accept any help provided by a professional home caregiver.

Seniors should be encouraged to take pride in their homes by placing their own personal decorating touch in the home. Flower arranging is a great way for seniors to keep their home décor lively and fresh, while allowing them to exercise some creativity. San Antonio caregivers should consider flower arranging as a fun activity for them to participate in together. Flower arranging can be done with either fresh flowers or silk ones, and can really enhance a senior’s perception of their home!

Sources:

1. Suite101
2. Associated Content

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

We all know what getting out in the fresh air and sunshine can do to our overall disposition and well-being, but the benefits of the San Antonio summer sun can play an even greater role in improving the health of elderly Americans. Recent studies have shown that Vitamin D is directly linked to bone health, and those who receive a daily dose of the mineral can reduce the likelihood of bone fractures by as much as 20% when they’re age 65 and older. While seniors might be reluctant to venture outside into the summer heat in San Antonio, even 10-15 minutes of sun exposure can have extensive benefits which can affect the senior long-term.

Sun exposure does have its benefits, but seniors also need to be wise about the time they spend in the sun and the physical signals that their body sends that could indicate a negative repercussion due to sun exposure. If they’re sweating excessively, nauseous, dizzy, or confused, they may be suffering from heat stroke or dehydration; these symptoms mean that it’s time to get out of the sun and perhaps even seek some medical attention. Heat exhaustion can be prevented by ensuring that a senior is well covered and protected in a hat and loose clothing, kept well-hydrated, and removed from direct sunlight to prevent prolonged exposure. Of course, sunscreen is always a key element too. When seniors are smart about protecting themselves during exposure to the sun, they can also reap the benefits; their bones will thank them for it!

Sources:

1. Health and Age
2. CBC
3. CBC

Image Source: www.theepochtimes.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Having had to go through the decision of bringing a senior home care provider into my father’s San Antonio home when he was in the 70’s, I know just how hard it can be to know when it’s the right time. While I’m sure that every situation varies for each senior and their family, there were a few factors that made me determine it was the right time to help my dad by providing him with in-home care. For one, after recovering from an injury, I knew I wouldn’t be able to be there for his every whim once he returned home from the hospital, and I really wanted him to focus on his recovery, and didn’t want him to overdo it by trying to keep up with things around the house. Since I couldn’t be there all the time, I figured that an in-home care provider for seniors would be able to fill in the gaps.

Even after his recovery, we decided it was a good idea to keep the professional caregiver, because his doctor recommended that since his injury probably impacted his reflexes, he give up his car keys. While I had no problem arranging to drive my dad around to run errands, I knew that with my immediate family and my career, that I wouldn’t be able to accommodate him every time he needed me since I’d need to work around my schedule.

I would say, that anyone who sees their elderly parent or relative beginning to struggle, should consider home care to fill in the blanks.

- Stephanie, 45 San Antonio

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

When choosing a San Antonio home care agency to provide care for an aging loved one, it’s important that families know exactly what they’re getting themselves into. There are a significant number of agencies out there that can place senior care specialists in the home of a senior, and they come at all price points. However, don’t be fooled by some of the home care agencies that promise the world at a lower price, because you’ll encounter more complications than its worth in many cases that can compromise the level of care received by your loved one.

Many home care registries operate in San Antonio and around the country; but they’re not to be confused with licensed home care agencies. These home care registries hire their senior care specialists as private contractors rather than employees which can be convoluted when it comes to dealing with the taxes and legalities surrounding hiring a caregiver from a registry. While some of these home care organizations charge less strictly for connecting families with caregivers, families may be responsible for paying taxes, workman’s compensation and other aspects. Some home care registries do cover these costs, but since caregivers under their wing are licensed contractors only, there can be some serious legal and financial repercussions which can drain the family of all resources if a workman’s compensation claim is made after the caregiver has had an accident or injury on the job.

By hiring a caregiver from a licensed home care agency like Home Instead Senior Care, all caregivers are employees of the company, categorized as “nurses and other healthcare workers who travel”. Based on this categorization, fees might be higher, but Home Instead takes care of all of the dirty work; paying all taxes and fees, with no repercussions to the senior’s family should the caregiver have an accident.

It may be tempting during times of financial crisis to pinch pennies in all areas of life, but when it comes to senior home care, you get what you pay for; so if you want quality care with no legal ramifications, go with a licensed home care agency, and you’ll have no regrets.

Sources:

1. Gilbert Guide

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

As a leading home care agency in San Antonio, one of the top questions that Home Instead Senior Care receives is if caregivers can help seniors out around the home. Many families worry about their aging senior’s ability to keep up with tasks and responsibilities at home, especially when a safety risk might be a consequence; but they don’t want their loved one to suffer from loss of independence by moving them out of their own home.

Fortunately for San Antonio families, Home Instead Senior Care provides a number of senior home care services, including help around the home. Our caregivers can assist seniors with light-housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, meal planning, grocery shopping and transportation to and from errands. In addition to the help around the home that our caregivers offer, they also provide assistance with personal care like bathing, dressing, and personal grooming. Our caregivers also provide companionship for the senior and bond with each and every one of their elderly clients to ensure that they feel comfortable, safe and happy with their home care situation.

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

How do you know when it’s time for your San Antonio senior to seek in home senior care help? While there are a number of ways that a professional caregiver can benefit seniors by helping them out around their San Antonio homes, there are some seniors that are prime candidates for care who can also benefit the most from the senior care services.

• Seniors who struggle with Activities of Daily Living – seniors who struggle with dressing, bathing, preparing meals, taking their medications, or keeping up with chores around the home are ideal candidates for in-home senior care

• Seniors with declining mobility – seniors who are having changes with their balance and mobility may be at a greater risk of falling or having an accident in the home when trying to perform ADLs . By hiring a caregiver, safety issues can be addressed and prevented through additional help

• Seniors who have had to give up driving – seniors who no longer drive for whatever reason, would greatly benefit from the help of a caregiver who can take them to run errands or to appointments

• Seniors who don’t have family nearby – seniors who have the above problems but do not have family nearby to help them can benefit from in home care when there’s no one else out there to help them

• Seniors who have come out of the hospital or rehab – after seniors have been released from the hospital or rehab program and are in recovery, it’s better for seniors to have the help of a caregiver so they don’t put too much of a burden on their bodies by trying to care for themselves or their homes

• Seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia – safety may be an issue for seniors who struggle with their memories

Sources:

1. Elder Issues

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Whether you’re an older adult or a senior caregiver, you know that stress can be a regular part of your daily life. But while some level of stress might be normal, there are specific lifestyle factors that can leave you more vulnerable to the physical and emotional effects of stress, which can have and impact on your health.

The following factors can contribute to your stress vulnerability, and if they are part of your life, it’s probably time to make some changes and incorporate stress management techniques:

• You eat irregular meals, or do not have a regular, well-balanced diet

• You don’t engage in cardiovascular activities at least a couple of time per week, but ensure that they are safe for your level of physical fitness and mobility

• You rarely get a good night sleep of at least 8 hours per night

• You smoke or drink alcohol on a regular basis

• You have limited social contact, and don’t engage in social activities in your community or with your peers

• You lack a support system of family and friends that you can talk to about the things that are bothering you

• You refuse to talk with a professional when the stress gets to be too much

• You, like many Americans, are addicted to caffeine and consume multiple caffeinated drinks per day

• You find it impossible to find time to yourself, or feel guilty when you do so you never put yourself or your needs first

If the above sounds like you, you are putting your body and mind seriously at risk for stress related complications. You may suffer from a diabetes condition, heart condition, chronic fatigue, and even cancer.

Sources:

1. Medical News Today

2. Medicine Online

3. The American Institute of Stress

Image: www.gettyimages.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Q – How does the financial crisis impact older Americans from a health perspective?

A – As today’s economic downturn has seniors worrying about rising interest rates, obsolete pensions, and the potential to lose their San Antonio homes; there’s an even bigger issue that’s plaguing the senior population that results immediately from the economic recession; failing health. With seniors facing increased levels of stress, in addition to anxiety and depression San Antonio seniors could come face to face with their mortality through the onset of other health problems. The stress caused by the credit crunch can directly result in increased cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack, hypertension and stroke; and through a weakened immune system can make the elderly more vulnerable to colds, viruses, and even some forms of cancer which could be lethal.

As seniors become more and more overwhelmed by their financial state as a result of the economic downturn; they have something even more concerning to worry about – the impact that all of the stress has on their health. As the financial crisis steals stability away from Americans nationwide, San Antonio elderly are also losing their lives right along with their livelihood.

Sources:

1. The American Institute of Stress
2. The Mayo Clinic

Image: www.qualityoflifecare.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

We asked our readers in San Antonio to share their worst doctor’s experiences when bringing their senior care recipient in for a medical consultation, and discovered that many caregivers have gripes about the doctor’s inability to speak to them in a language they understand. To help decipher medspeak, there are a few great online resources like The Medical Library Association and MedicineNet which define common and atypical medical terms in a way that’s easy to understand. To help take control of your senior’s medical care and understand the health information presented by a doctor, consult the above resources; but for now, enjoy one of our reader’s humorous horror stories about a visit to her mother’s doctor and a breakdown in communication.

Last year, I escorted my elderly mother to her family physician to have a rash looked at. During our first visit, the doctor was uncertain of the source of the rash; but by the second visit, she began to refer to it as “static”. Until we returned to the office the next time, we thought the doctor was blaming my mom’s rash on static, it turns out she was trying to refer to the fact that the condition of the rash had not changed. Meanwhile, I was trying to find a fabric softener that would reduce the static in my mom’s clothing!

Julie, 53

Sources:
1. Medical Library Association
2. MedicineNet

Image: Image: www.navigenics.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.