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Month: September 2020

4 Important Things You May Not Know About In-Home Care

Posted on by Craig Bass

Many people are not fully aware of the various aspects and features of in-home care, including who usually needs it, options available with it, how it can be paid for, and other benefits. At Golden Heart Senior Care, we offer a range of elderly care services for our clients, including respite care, assisted in-home care, and more.

A Break for Family Caretakers

Respite care is one of the features of in-home care that gives one or more caregivers within the family the opportunity to rest and get replenished from taking care of their loved one. During this time, a professional in-home caregiver can provide the necessary care. This arrangement also benefits the recipient of the care when his or her primary caregiver has received the relaxation and rest needed to provide assistance and care once again.

Reduces Hospital Readmissions

Much evidence indicates that individuals who receive care in-home are less likely to experience a serious health event while receiving care at home as opposed to in a critical health care environment. This helps reduce the level of readmissions to the hospital.

Flexible Options Are Available

When receiving in-home care, it is important to have a customized plan to meet your loved one’s individual needs. A unique in-home care plan can cater to a person’s specific preferences, condition, and abilities. The caregiver needs to listen to the client and be a good match. This involves asking the client what matters to them, what they need, what they like to do, and other pertinent questions to help assess the type of care required. From this information, an experienced in-home care service can provide the flexibility to deliver a care plan that will meet the client’s care needs.

There Are Many Ways to Pay

It is possible to pay for in-home care outside of using your personal savings. Veterans and spouses of veterans have access to benefits that may cover in-home care. Some life insurance and long-term care insurance may also cover the services. A family member may be able to receive payment from a Medicare recipient as part of providing caregiving services. The various payment options can be complicated to research, but taking advantage of a program that minimizes the stresses on the recipient of the care and the caregiver can certainly be worthwhile.

For information about the home care services we offer at Golden Heart Senior Care, give us a call today at 623.748.3301 or complete our contact form.

What Are the Warning Signs of a Stroke?

Posted on by Craig Bass

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or interrupted. When the brain doesn’t receive enough blood, it also doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients it means. As a result, brain tissue can be damaged or even destroyed. While a stroke can be deadly, more people are surviving them today thanks to better medical treatments and greater awareness of stroke symptoms. When family caregivers know the symptoms of stroke, their older family members can receive treatment faster. The sooner treatment is received, the more likely it is that the outcome will be a good one.

Signs of a Stroke

To help people remember and recognize the signs of stroke, the American Heart Association uses the acronym F.A.S.T. The letters mean:

  • Face Drooping: When you look at your older family member, does it appear that one side of their face is drooping? If you’re not certain, ask them to smile. If their smile looks lopsided, they could be having a stroke.
  • Arm Weakness: During a stroke, one arm may feel weak or numb. Ask them to raise both arms. When one arm drifts downward, it is a sign of stroke.
  • Speech: Stroke can cause slurred or garbled speech. Ask your older family to repeat a simple phrase back to you to check for speech problems.
  • Time: If you see any of the above signs of stroke in your older family member, call 911 immediately. Even if the symptoms go away, they should go to the hospital since they may have had a mini stroke, which can be a sign that a bigger stroke is coming.

Preventing a Stroke

The most effective way of preventing a stroke in an older adult is by helping them to live a healthier lifestyle. This includes exercising and eating a healthy diet. Other steps you can help your aging relative to take are:

  • Managing high blood pressure.
  • Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
  • Managing diabetes.
  • Quitting smoking.
  • Drinking alcohol only in moderation.

Elderly care can assist older to reduce their risk factors for stroke. For example, an elderly care provider can prepare healthy meals and encourage the senior to be more physically active. Elderly care providers can also help with managing high blood pressure by reminding your loved one to take their medications and cooking low salt meals. Should the older adult have a stroke, an elderly care provider can call 911 to ensure they receive the immediate help they need.

Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm
https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring elderly care in Phoenix, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

Four Reasons for Your Senior to Consider Exercising in Water

Posted on by Craig Bass

Any time your senior is planning to exercise, you should talk to her doctor. One type of exercise that her doctor might recommend could be water exercises. These are thorough workouts that can help your senior to be safer in a variety of ways.

The Water Keeps Exercise Low Impact

Low impact exercise is typically more comfortable for a greater percentage of people. The buoyancy of the water helps to support your senior and even if she’s not very strong yet, she can do a lot more in the water than she might be able to do on land. She’s also using the resistance of the water to help to build her muscles.

She’s Far Less Likely to Injure Herself

Part of why this is such a great way to exercise is that your elderly family member is less likely to injure herself while exercising in water. The risk of falling when she’s actively exercising in the water is very small. She’s also far less likely to overwork her muscles or to put herself in a positions where she might cause injury in other ways.

There Are So Many Choices

Your senior may only think about swimming when it comes to exercising in the water, but there are lots of other types of exercise that she might be able to do in the water. Water aerobics are common, but there are also other types of movement, like weightlifting in water, jogging in water, and even yoga in water. All of these different options give your senior a chance to try something new while being supported by the water.

She Might Meet New Friends

The social benefits your senior might experience are just as important. It’s likely she’ll meet other people who have similar interests as her own and that she’ll have a lot of fun with them. Often classes have a social element to them when people are able to move freely and talk a bit. Your elderly family member may find that this is a great way to engage with others while she takes steps to move more regularly.

Moving more doesn’t have to be boring and it doesn’t have to feel dangerous to your senior. Most water exercises are offered at a community pool of some sort. If your elderly family member doesn’t feel comfortable driving, home care providers might be the perfect way to help her get there safely and ensure she’s got what she needs.

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring homecare in Cave Creek, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!