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Another Great Review from a Wonderful Client!

Because of HIPAA, we’re not allowed to release clients names. Please see what our clients are saying about us below:

Hi Vanessa. I just wanted to let you know that my mom loved RS and they already formed a bond. Haha. We are so happy she will be caring for my mom for the next few weeks. Thanks again.

For more information on how you or your loved one can receive this type of care, please contact us on one of the methods included in the letter.

Happy Holidays and be safe!!!

What Types of Exercises Help Seniors to Reduce Their Risk of Falling?

The older seniors get, the higher their risk of falling becomes. The consequences of falling can be far more serious than many people realize. Seniors and family caregivers can take some significant steps to reduce fall risk, however, especially by implementing an exercise plan and getting a little bit of help. Home care assistance can ensure that seniors remember to exercise as often as necessary and that seniors are safe in general.

Why Is Fall Prevention Important?

Focusing on fall prevention is absolutely vital for seniors as they age. Falls can lead to not only physical issues but also psychological ones. Falls can result in broken bones, brain injuries, loss of confidence, fear, and overall reduced quality of life. Seniors who want to maintain their independence can do so most effectively by reducing fall risk as much as possible. Seniors should talk to their doctors about what exercises are okay for them to start out trying.

Balance Exercises

Balance exercises are a great place to start with fall prevention. Focusing on improving balance and coordination also helps to improve posture. Some of the exercises to try include walking, yoga, and even gentle stretching. The exercises don’t have to be complicated in order to help seniors make improvements that benefit them.

Strength Training Exercises

Seniors tend to lose muscle tone as they age. Strength training exercises help to slow down muscle loss and can even help seniors to regain muscle. Bodyweight exercises are some of the easiest strength training exercises and seniors don’t need any additional equipment to do them. Resistance band exercises and small dumbbells are also good options.

Flexibility Exercises

Flexibility is another crucial part of avoiding a fall and seniors tend to lose flexibility as they age. Stretching exercises, like Pilates and yoga, are excellent for improving flexibility. They also help with balance, which can be important for seniors who want to maximize their exercise time. Flexibility exercises help to improve range of motion as well.

Cardio Exercises

As seniors improve their stamina and ability to exercise, they might want to start including options like cardio. Cardio exercises help to boost heart health, endurance, and overall strength. These are exercises like swimming, cycling, or brisk walking. Improving overall fitness helps to reduce fall risk while improving quality of life.

Exercises Related to Falling Safely

Another type of exercise that seniors might want to consider with a lot of support is exercises designed to help them fall safely. It’s best for seniors to do these types of exercises with lots of help to ensure they don’t get hurt. Home care providers and medical professionals can be a huge help with these types of activities because their goal is to keep seniors as safe as they can.

Having support and companionship from home care assistance can also be a huge win for seniors as they learn how to reduce their fall risks. Staying as safe as possible is a big goal for seniors to have, but it’s one that is achievable, particularly if seniors are focusing on building strength, balance, and flexibility through a personalized exercise plan.

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

How to Support Your Loved One When She Quits Smoking

November 16 is the Great American Smokeout Day. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, this day serves as a possible starting point for those who wish to kick the habit of smoking tobacco and begin a smoke-free life.

If you are providing care for a loved one who is a long-term smoker, you have seen the toll that smoking can take on her. From health issues to financial issues to cleanliness issues, smoking permeates every aspect of a person’s life, and not for the better. Most long-term smokers have tried quitting multiple times and find themselves getting frustrated over trying again, but along with that, most quitters found it took multiple attempts. This year may be the year your loved one quits successfully and completely.

As their loved one and caregiver, you can support them along this journey. You should also enlist others to be a part of their “cheer team,” such as other family members, friends, neighbors, and senior home care providers. All can rally alongside your loved one as she attempts to break free of the bonds of smoking.

But what can you specifically do? Here are five ways you can support your loved one as she begins her Great American Smokeout.

  • Ask her what she’d like as you support her. Does she want you to check in multiple times a day? Or would she prefer you don’t constantly ask about it? Follow her lead to support her.
  • Be ready to be ready. Your loved one may say she doesn’t want to check in much, but then calls you or texts you multiple times during those first few days for support. Be willing to be flexible, especially at the beginning. Talk to her senior care provider about providing additional support during that time to help over the first hump.
  • Ask about more than just smoking. When you check-in, don’t make it all about the smoking. Ask about how her body is feeling. How is she emotionally getting by? What new things did she discover today since she’s not smoking (maybe she went on a new walk with her senior home care provider or tried a new recipe to distract herself)? Try to keep it upbeat and positive.
  • Resist the urge to nag or shame. Even if she slips up, remind her about how proud you are that she’s trying and that you are there for her no matter how it goes.
  • Offer more outings. Distraction is a big part of quitting. Your loved one needs her mind on something other than smoking, so plan more outings to keep her occupied. Ask her senior care provider to also help her find ways to get out of the home and her mind off of the nicotine.

Quitting is a journey, and often a long one that may not be a very straight or smooth path. It’ll have a lot of bumps and turns, but your loved one will have more success navigating it if she has your support.

Reference
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/tobacco/great-american-smokeout.html

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

Five Health Benefits of Cheese

Most people agree that cheese is delicious and adds an extra touch of tastiness to many meals. It doesn’t matter if you like good old American cheese, funky blue cheese, creamy mozzarella, or salty feta, cheese is delicious. But, did you know that cheese also has some wonderful health benefits, many of which can help your aging loved one feel better and manage some common symptoms of aging? Let’s take a look at why the next time your loved one heads to the grocery store with her home care provider, she might want to consider spending a little more time in the deli section, picking out cheese.

Cheese is an excellent source of calcium

Calcium is not only needed for strong bones (many elderly individuals need to build up bone strength), but calcium also aids in vascular function, nerve transmission, and muscle movement. The bones store that calcium so the body can run itself to its best ability. The body cannot create its own calcium so if your loved one isn’t getting enough, it will take it from the bones to nourish the body, thus weakening the bones. So getting enough calcium every day is important and there’s no better way than cheese!

Calcium is also a great source of protein

Not only will your loved one get her calcium when she eats cheese, she’ll also get her protein. Protein is needed to keep up muscle strength and help your loved one stay independently active. For good protein-packed cheeses, have your home care provider help your loved one pick out and then consume low-moisture cheeses like parmesan. Perhaps there will be some delicious Italian dishes in her future.

Cheese can prevent osteoporosis

As mentioned, with cheese being packed with calcium and protein, it can be great to add to a diet if your loved one has a family history of osteoporosis. While consuming cheese after the age of about 30 cannot undo any bone loss that has already occurred it can help the body stop losing bone mass and creating health issues like brittle bones and osteoporosis.

Cheese can help your loved one add weight

If your aging loved one is underweight and the doctor has recommended she try to add on some weight, cheese is a much better source of calories than a bunch of donuts or candy bars. With its fat and protein content, plus the many vitamins and minerals it contains, cheese is a great choice for healthily gaining weight. Have her home care provider help her find ways to add it to her diet if your loved one needs to gain weight.

Cheese can keep the dentist away

Eating cheese can help reduce the risk of dental cavities for several reasons. It helps to lower the pH balance in the mouth, reducing acid levels that may eat at tooth enamel. It also helps produce saliva, which rinses the mouth out, getting particles away from the teeth and eroding them. And as mentioned about the benefit to bones, teeth are bones so they receive those benefits of calcium as well.

There are so many choices of cheese out there that your loved one will be able to find something delicious to add to her diet and improve her health.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 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!

Helping Seniors at Home After Rehab

It’s unfortunate when anyone has to go to a rehab. We do the best we can to make it so that when that person arrives home, we can enhance their lives by Assisting with Daily Activities. Help a senior today. They helped to shape yesterday.

Visiting with Wonderful Clients

As you all may know, getting out to visit and talk with clients is my favorite part of this business. I love getting out to talk to seniors. I love it even more when we have a chance to enrich a seniors lives. Help a senior today. It brings great feelings.

Let’s Go Diamondbacks!

I love to work with and help seniors. That is the most fulfilling part of my life. I must say, watching the Diamondbacks go to game 7 in the playoffs is pretty nice as well. Let’s go D-Backs.

Caregiver Rewards

Caregiver rewards are something we take seriously here at Golden Heart Senior Care. When a caregiver does something extraordinary or when they receive a compliment from a client, we reward them. We like to reward the behaviors that are becoming to our culture. Rewarding caring behavior help promote a culture of caring and helping. If you would like to receive this type of service or if you would like to be on a team that promotes this way of thinking, please phone us for more information. Allow us to Heart you as a client or employee.

Reward Bonus Points for Our Caregivers

Here at Golden Heart, we love to catch people doing things right or getting a client compliment. When you do, you receive an award called Reward Bonus Points. Reward bonus points can be turned in for different things related to cash that our caregivers find rewarding. Here is a picture of a caregiver receiving a reward. I must say, her smile makes me smile. Thank you Golden Heart caregivers for helping our clients live a safe and comfortable life at the place they call home. We Heart you here at Golden Heart. Please phone us for information on how to get a high quality caregiver or how to join a high quality team of caregivers.

Seniors and Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries, also called TBIs, can have a significant impact on individuals of all ages, but seniors are particularly vulnerable due to age-related factors. Understanding as much as possible about TBIs and how they impact seniors is so important for family caregivers. This can also help families to get the right help for their aging adults, like bringing in 24-hour home care providers.

Causes of TBI in Seniors

Seniors can experience traumatic brain injuries due to various causes. Falls are the most common reason for TBIs among older adults, often resulting from impaired balance, decreased mobility, or vision problems. Other causes include accidents during daily activities, such as bumping heads on furniture or cabinets, or even motor vehicle accidents. Additionally, older adults may be at increased risk of TBIs due to certain medications that can affect balance and coordination. Understanding the causes of TBIs in seniors is crucial in implementing preventive measures to mitigate the risks.

Lingering Effects of TBIs

Traumatic brain injuries can have long-lasting effects on seniors, impacting their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. Physical effects may include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and difficulty with coordination and mobility. Cognitive effects can manifest as memory problems, decreased attention span, and difficulties with problem-solving and decision-making. Emotional effects may include mood swings, irritability, depression, and anxiety. It is important to recognize these lingering effects and provide appropriate support and resources for seniors to manage and cope with the challenges they may face.

Preventing Brain Injuries in Seniors

Prevention plays a crucial role in reducing the incidence of TBIs in seniors. Strategies for preventing brain injuries include creating a safe living environment by removing hazards, ensuring proper lighting, and using assistive devices like grab bars and non-slip mats. Elder care providers can help with these tasks. Regular exercise and balance training can help improve strength and stability, reducing the risk of falls. Encouraging seniors to wear appropriate protective gear when engaging in activities with a higher risk of head injury, such as cycling or skating, is also essential. Furthermore, medication reviews by healthcare professionals can identify medications that may increase the risk of falls or affect balance, allowing for adjustments as necessary.

Helping Seniors Recover from Traumatic Brain Injury

Supporting seniors in their recovery from traumatic brain injury requires a multidisciplinary approach. Medical professionals, including neurologists and rehabilitation specialists, can assess the severity of the injury and create personalized treatment plans. Rehabilitation programs may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation to address the specific challenges faced by each individual. Emotional support is also vital, as seniors may experience frustration, anxiety, and depression during their recovery process.

Encouraging social engagement and providing a supportive network can help seniors regain confidence and improve their overall well-being. Hands-on help, especially with daily tasks at home is essential. Some seniors may need help around the clock from 24-hour home care.

Traumatic brain injuries can have a profound impact on seniors, necessitating a comprehensive approach to prevention, management, and recovery. By understanding how to help seniors manage TBIs properly, family caregivers can put the right solutions in place.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home 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!