Visiting Angels: senior care

Meet Visiting Angels • Local Resources • Working with Alzheimer's • Homecare Services
Our Caregivers • Senior Resources • Senior News • Contact Us

Showing posts with label senior care. Show all posts

Thursday, October 15, 2015

How To Know When Your Parent Needs A Caregiver

Most seniors prefer to do things themselves. However, people who have health problems may need assistance completing the activities of daily living. That is why many seniors need a caregiver. A caregiver is a professional who can assist your loved one with the activities of daily living.

A caregiver can also help your parent with errands. You may be wondering whether your loved one needs a caregiver. Below is a list of signs that your parent is in need of a caregiver:

Your Loved One Has Difficulty With Activities Of Daily Living

If your parent is struggling with activities of daily living, then it is time to hire a caregiver. This includes things such as toileting, grooming, walking and dressing. Many seniors who struggle with activities of daily living are admitted to an assisted living facility or nursing home.

However, a caregiver can help your parent stay in his or her home much longer. A caregiver will give your parent the right balance of independence and support.

Changes In Physical Appearance

In many cases, changes in physical appearance are a sign that your loved one is in need of a caregiver. For example, if your parent is losing weight, then this may be a sign that he or she is having difficulty cooking. Poor hygiene and a sloppy appearance could be an indication that your loved one is having difficulty dressing and grooming him or herself.

Blue and black marks on the body could be an indication that a person has fallen or has trouble walking.

Behavioral Changes

You may want to hire a caregiver if you notice strange behavior from your parent. This includes things such as lack of motivation or drive and failing to return phone calls. If your parent becomes physically or verbally abusive, then he or she may need a caregiver.

Signs Of Dementia

It is a good idea to hire a caregiver if your loved one is showing any signs of dementia. This includes things such as memory lapses, confusion and repetitive speech. Mood swings and personality changes are some of the other signs of dementia.

If you are looking for a caregiver, then you should consider contacting Visiting Angels in Las Vegas.

Monday, August 24, 2015

The Progression of Alzheimer's Disease and the Progression of Daily Home Care Needs

Most have heard the 'frog in a pot of water' theory. If a frog is put in a pot of hot water, it will jump out. If it is put in room temperature water and then the pot is heated, it adjusts until it is too late. This same idea can apply to adult children adjusting their daily care of elderly parents with Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive and physical decline associated with the disease may improve for a time with currently available treatments and medications, but the progression curve follows a rate of decline. The next step in daily care of elderly parents is sometimes delayed because adult children providing the care are taking on extra tasks a little at a time, not noticing the risks of trying to do it all.

Typical adult children caregiver scenarios often begin with medical setbacks such as slips or falls. They begin to take over a few tasks to help. Often, only one parent is affected by Alzheimer's or another condition that leads to cognitive and physical impairments that worsen over time. The unaffected spouse may suddenly be overwhelmed with new care tasks that puts their own health and safety at risk. Care often begins in stages with tasks, such as making sure the home is kept clean, helping with budgeting and making sure bills are paid on time. Newly prescribed medications may also require daily reminders.

At some point driving skills of those with Alzheimer's degrades to the point where they are no longer safe drivers. This stage often results in significant conflict due to the desire to maintain the freedom that driving brings and the adult children knowing that safety of parents with Alzheimer's and others on the road takes precedence. Transportation tasks are then taken over by children who are providing elderly parent care. This may also be the time adult children of parents with Alzheimer's realize their elderly parents may need more care than they can adequately provide, and the parents then fear commitment to a nursing facility.

The progression of Alzheimer's at some point in the future may require nursing care. However, that could be quite a long time from when daily home care is a necessity. The disease advances in stages and so should the amount of care given to parents who have Alzheimer's. Daily home care from Visiting Angels in Las Vegas is the next logical step when caring for elderly parents becomes too much for the adult children, but a point where assisted living or nursing home care is needed has not been reached yet.

Visiting Angels can take over many of the daily tasks that need completed and also provide social interaction and assistance with memory loss care, assistance with walking or completion of exercise routines, meal preparation, light housekeeping, running errands, transportation to appointments and even overnight care where the caregiver stays awake to offer help as needed. Probably the greatest service is one of companionship where the elderly parent knows that someone is there for conversation and is also ready to help. Daily home care services provided by Visiting Angels in Las Vegas eases the burden and removes the stress of elderly parent care.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

What Is Arthritis And How Does It Affect The Body

Arthritis is inflammation in the joints resulting from a variety of different causes including diseases, infections, and genetic defects. The inflammation can cause pain and stiffness in one or more joints, as well as swelling in the surrounding tissues. Arthritis pain typically worsens with age and can greatly affect one's quality of life if not managed properly.

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects the cartilage in the joints. As we age, the cartilage that surrounds our bones starts to wear down, thus resulting in bone surfaces rubbing against one another and causing pain and discomfort. It typically affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips, but can also wreak havoc on other areas of the body like the fingers and elbows. One suffering from osteoarthritis is at risk of developing bone spurs which are growths on the bone that can cause muscle and nerve damage.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the lining of the joints, referred to as the synovial membrane. As the membrane gets worn down, the cartilage and bone in the joint becomes severely weakened and eventually destroyed. Parts of the body that are typically affected by rheumatoid arthritis are the fingers, wrists, elbows, and knees, although the disease can also affect other areas of the body like the lungs, eyes, and skin. Women between the ages of 30 and 50 are at the highest risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis, although it affects men and the elderly as well.

Severe arthritis can make it extremely difficult to perform daily tasks such as bathing, getting dressed, preparing meals, or running errands. Visiting Angels can help assist your loved one with a variety of different tasks in the comfort of their own home. Our fully-trained, compassionate homecare providers will work with your family to develop a plan to suit the individualized needs of your loved one. Our caregivers are flexible and will work around your schedule to provide the most positive experience for you and your loved one. Visiting Angels is here to make living with arthritis more manageable and to improve your loved one's quality of life.

Friday, August 30, 2013

How to Pick an Agency for In-Home Senior Care

When a loved one needs healthcare due to old age or disability, home care is often preferred over nursing homes or other facilities. The right home care agency can provide 24-hour monitoring, feeding, drug administration, flexibility and more. Here's a guide to choosing a dependable agency for in-home care.

Speak with Management

Look into agencies to see how they hire and manage their caregivers. How do they screen job applicants? Do they insure all workers and offer worker's compensation in case their caregivers are injured on your property? Also find out whether an agency's caregivers are permanent employees or contract workers. In many cases, employees offer more support and a higher level of care to patients.

Analyze Services

Caregivers perform different types of services, so it's important to choose an agency that offers the services you need. In addition to managers, speak with employees to find out what skills they have. Make sure that they are compatible with yourself and the patient for the comfort of everyone.

Verify Licenses and Reputation

Home care often involves professional medical procedures that should only be performed by professionals. Before hiring an agency, verify that their caregivers are licensed and accredited according to the laws in your area. In addition, look at online reviews and speak with others in your area to confirm that the agency is reputable.

Look for Training

Although educational programs teach caregivers many important skills, agencies often train their caregivers to perform tasks to their own specifications. Combined with regular testing, this may ensure that the agency's caregivers offer a consistently high level of service.

Discuss Emergency Procedures

Emergencies may arise during home care, making contingency training essential for caregivers. If your regular caregiver is ever unable to work for any reason, will the agency be able to provide a replacement? By looking into this before you hire an agency, you'll be less likely to be faced with finding another agency on a moment's notice.

Ask About Background Checks

You should be able to trust any caregiver in your home. If you stick to agencies that require references and background checks for their personnel, you'll be more likely to end up with a caregiver you can count on.

Looking into home care agencies with the above considerations in mind will better ensure that you are satisfied with the caregiver who works in your home.