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Author: Craig Bass

Personality Changes and Dementia: What Do You Need to Know?

Posted on by Craig Bass

Confusion and memory loss can be easily identified in most cases of dementia. However, at the beginning of the disease, the changes might be subtle. It might not be until thinking about things later that many family caregivers realize their elderly loved one had these issues. If you are caring for your elderly loved one, it is a good idea to learn about personality changes and issues to recognize with dementia.

Issues Following Storylines

Have you recently thought your elderly loved one was absentminded? Maybe, they even seemed inconsiderate when you were telling them a story. This may not be the case at all. Your elderly loved one could be having issues following storylines because of dementia. People who have this disease often have trouble listening to others talk. They may not be able to follow the meaning of what you are saying. Your elderly loved one might have trouble responding because they can’t find the words to use.

Issues with Judgment

Does it seem like your elderly loved one has changed the way they do things? Do they seem much more adventurous than they were in recent years? If these things seem like drastic changes, your elderly loved one might have dementia. It would be a good idea to get them tested by a doctor. In addition, if the judgment issues are serious, you may want to hire elder care providers to stay with your loved one. This way, your loved one doesn’t make any improper decisions.

Losing Interest in Things

Has it seemed like your loved one is aimlessly going through their days? Maybe, they used to participate in senior activities in their community, but recently quit doing that. If your elderly loved one has been losing interest in things they used to enjoy, they could have dementia. Apathy is a common symptom of dementia. If your elderly loved one is having this issue, don’t assume it is just aging. Figure out what is going on. If needed, you can hire elder care providers to see if they can get your loved one to like new or old activities.

Conclusion

These are some of the personality changes and other changes that people often have with dementia. Have you noticed that your elderly loved one is displaying any of these symptoms? If so, then you should have them seen by a doctor. If a dementia diagnosis is given, you can get your loved one the home care services needed to manage this disease. Even if they don’t have dementia, but they have these symptoms, elder care providers might still be able help to reduce these issues.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6432780/

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring elder care 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!

Golden Heart Welcomes Jaime Ryan, owner of Mountain View Hospice!

Posted on by Craig Bass

Good morning Friends. We had a lovely visit from my friend Jaime Wasden Ryum this week. She is the amazing owner of Mountain View Hospice in the West Valley. While we are East Valley – she does business Valley wide. We are so privileged to work with so many exceptional professionals in this industry and Jaime is one of them. It was nice to see each other in person again finally!

I know our office team was happy to meet you in person! Thanks for making the trip Jaime! #goldenheartscottsdale

Congratulations Nelia for your Caregiver Award!

Posted on by Craig Bass

Congratulations Nelia on your well deserved Caregiver Award!

Golden Heart Senior Care is pleased to announce that Nelia has been awarded a Caregiver Award for excellent work! Rodney and I met her a while ago and she joined our team recently. Nelia is extremely skilled having group home experience. She is always open to picking up shifts and provides excellent care! Thank you Nelia. Nelia will receive a bonus for this award. Bravo Nelia!

Congratulations Joyce!

Posted on by Craig Bass

Golden Heart Senior Care is proud to announce that Joyce is awarded a Caregiver Award today! Joyce has been with us for 2 years since we acquired another Company! Her client LOVES her and appreciates her! Joyce ALWAYS MAKES HER SHIFTS! JOYCE PROVES EXCELLENT CARE! SHE CARES!

She communicates well with the Office Team! ( Secret hint for all of you; Treat the Office Team with kindness and respect; Make All Shifts and Provide Excellent Care and you will have whatever you want shift wise!)

Congratulations Joyce! Joyce will receive a bonus for her hard work!

How to Help Your Senior Settle Into a New Home

Posted on by Craig Bass

It is no secret that moving to a new home is a stressful event in anyone’s life, especially for a senior. Whether they are moving to a new city or just a new state, the process can be a difficult one. But, one of the most stressful times is settling into a new home.

Senior care providers understand their importance for the senior’s wellbeing and they are going to be a great ally in this moving journey with you and your senior.

Here are some tips to help your senior settle into their new home as smoothly as possible.

Plan Your Move Ahead of Time

One of the most important things to help your senior transition to their new home is to plan their move ahead of time. It is almost impossible to move without some sort of plan.

One of the best ways to plan their move is to visit your new home ahead of time to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood. There are several things you can do to make the move easier once you are there.

The first thing you should do is find a nearby grocery store. Many seniors find that they can save money on groceries by buying them from a local grocery store rather than the big box stores. In many areas, there are also local farmer’s markets that have fresh, seasonal produce.

Getting to know their neighbors is also important. If they are moving to a new state, or in a new area, it is a good idea to get to know their neighbors. Your senior can get to know them by working in their yard together or just waving to each other. Another way to get to know them is to seniors attend community events like block parties or neighborhood watch meetings.

Buy a Few Things to Make Their New Home Feel More Like Home

One of the biggest challenges seniors face when they move is a feeling of isolation. Senior care will help them to get comfortable, and less lonely. You can make their new home feel like home by adding a few things.

One of the best ways to make their house feel more like home is to buy a few furniture items or purchase some pictures. Add some personal touches like pictures and other sentimental items. This will help your senior feel like they are in a place that is theirs.

Another way to make your senior new home feel more like home is to get some new curtains or blinds, and getting the right decoration.

Plan to Make Some Changes to Their New Home

Many seniors will make a lot of changes to their new home, but some of the changes may not be as beneficial. For example, if they move into a new home that is more physically demanding than their old home, you may want to think about making some upgrades to make it safer.

If they are using a walker or a cane, you may want to think about getting a ramp for the front of their bathrooms, hallways, and kitchen.

Conclusion

Senior care can help this moment in your senior’s life and make sure everything runs smoothly during this time. We have the best team of professionals available, give us a call today!

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

CONGRATULATIONS TIMI FOR THE ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD!

Posted on by Craig Bass

Good morning Golden Heart Team! We would like to announce Timi, our On Call Night and Weekend Manager, is awarded a “ Going Above and Beyond Award “ for her excellent work!

We have had so many positive comments from clients. They feel Timi is absolutely focused on communication and making sure they receive care. Our caregiving team has been providing positive feedback. Timi understands all of you as she began in caregiving in this industry some time ago! Timi will receive a bonus for this award!

Bravo Timi!

Big News! Golden Heart Senior Care’s entire workforce will be vaccinated by 10/1/21

Posted on by Craig Bass

GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE, after careful consideration of our seniors’ and their family’s health, as well as our caregivers, is ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT OUR ENTIRE COMPANY WILL BE FULLY VACCINATED BY 10/1/21. EVERYONE WE HIRE GOING FORWARD WILL BE VACCINATED. All current employees getting vaccinated, receive a bonus. New employees get a signing bonus.

We are watching the numbers and feel strongly as healthcare providers, that we must keep our clients and employees safe. ( This is a business post and not a pro and con vaccination forum). We own our business. Everyday, we receive new clients asking if our team is vaccinated.

We have to make tough decisions everyday, HEALTH and SAFETY is job one for our Company. #goldenheartscottsdale

Golden Heart joins MeasureAbilities, LLC Fall Prevention Program!

Posted on by Craig Bass

DID YOU KNOW?

  • 40% of nursing home admissions are due to slip and fall accidents in the home
  • 80% of falls occur in the restroom
  • 1 out of 5 falls cause head injury or traumatic brain injury

Golden Heart Senior Care is very proud to announce our association with MeasureAbilities LLC’s FALL PREVENTION PARTNERS PROGRAM.

Rodney and I like to work with like-minded individuals with passion for their work. Deena and Sandy, owners( see below) , have created this program to join forces with healthcare providers to reduce unnecessary falls, injury and hospital readmission. A FREE HOME ASSESSMENT!

This is really something we believe in. If you are in more information, please call (580) 384-7360 or dm me. I am happy to help anyway that I can. #goldenheartscottsdale

Reasons for Lack of Appetite in the Elderly

Posted on by Craig Bass

Has your elderly loved one been experiencing a lack of appetite? Maybe they say they aren’t hungry when you ask if they want to go out to eat. A home care provider would also notice that they aren’t eating as much as normal. This can pose a problem. However, before finding the solution to this issue, it is important to learn about the reasons for the lack of appetite in the elderly. Once you can find the reason, then, you can find a solution.

Mental Health Issues

There are many senior citizens who experience mental health issues. Some of the most common mental health issues for the elderly include depression, stress, grief, and anxiety. If your elderly loved one is feeling overwhelmed by mental health issues, this could be causing their lack of appetite.

If this is suspected, the first step is to talk with your elderly loved one. If you feel they aren’t going to be comfortable talking to you about these things, maybe they will talk to a home care provider. Once you can get to the bottom of their mental health issues, you can come up with a list of possible solutions. These might range from exercising, getting therapy, or having someone around more often. If the solutions work, it is likely that your elderly loved one’s appetite will return.

Medications

There are many different medications that have a lack of appetite listed as a side effect. If your elderly loved one is on new medications and they suddenly lost their appetite, this is likely the cause. If they have been on a certain medication for a while and didn’t experience this lack of appetite until now, this likely isn’t the cause. If you do suspect medications to cause moderate to severe lack of appetite for your elderly loved one, make sure they see their doctor about this. The doctor might be able to prescribe an alternative medication to help your elderly loved one get their appetite back.

Illnesses

There are also many illnesses that can cause a lack of appetite in the elderly. Some of the illnesses that can cause this issue include the flu, respiratory infections, appendicitis, and cancer. If you or a home care provider suspect that an illness is causing the lack of appetite for your elderly loved one, be sure to schedule them a doctor’s appointment right away. If your elderly loved one can’t or doesn’t want to eat at all, get them emergent medical attention.

Conclusion

There are many reasons for the lack of appetite in the elderly. If your elderly loved one doesn’t have much of an appetite, make sure to find the reason for this issue. Then, you can help them to find a solution. Home care providers can play a vital role in ensuring your senior receives proper nutrition.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4589891/#:~:text=The%20physiological%20changes%20that%20occur,can%20contribute%20to%20declining%20appetite

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

Welcome Craig Bass!

Posted on by Craig Bass
Craig Bass
Craig Bass

Golden Heart Senior Care was very happy to meet with Craig Bass, corporate franchisor, at 6:45 am this morning. This very busy man, made time to meet with us for 90 minutes as he is in Phoenix this weekend.

We talked about all kinds of things, including expressing our sincere gratitude for his corporate support. Craig has always been supportive-chasing software vendors to make enhancements we are requesting; helping with new marketing materials, etc. Always available and approachable.

Since Craig and Lorri bought the corporate entity 5 years ago, we have had an amazing business collaboration.

Craig has a gift for understanding we are very driven business owners, who do not march to the same drummer as many of his other, very capable franchise owners. We do things our way and he is always supportive and a great sounding board. We often push for new solutions and other things. His response is always” how can we help and support you?”

We are blessed to be owners of this brand whose focus, like ours is superior service delivery for seniors aging wherever they choose to live. Serving 94 zip codes East of I-17.

Thank you Craig for a great meeting!
#goldenheartscottsdale