Keeping You Safe From COVID-19
Interested in a career at Golden Heart Senior Care. APPLY HERE!

Author: ltcep2023

How Seniors Can Reduce Their Risk of Oral Cancer

Posted on by ltcep2023

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month and now is a great time to make sure that your senior parent is doing everything they can to reduce their risk of oral cancer. Oral cancer typically is diagnosed in seniors who are over the age of 65.

Seniors who smoke now or have smoked have a higher risk of oral cancer. If your senior parent smokes, April would be a great time for them to try quitting. Early detection is important, so if your senior parent has noticed any changes in their oral health they should get a medical checkup.

If your senior parent has trouble maintaining good oral hygiene like brushing their teeth, personal care at home can help. With personal care at home your senior parent will have a dedicated care provider in the home to help them with tasks like washing their face, brushing their teeth, and showering safely. A care provider can also check your senior parent for signs of oral cancer.

Some recommended things seniors can do that may reduce their risk of developing oral cancer include:

Quit Tobacco Use

Smoking and using chewing tobacco are two of the biggest causes of oral cancer. Tobacco contains harmful chemicals that damage cells in the mouth and throat.

If your senior parent smokes or uses tobacco, quitting is the best way to reduce their risk. Even if they have been smoking for many years, stopping now can still help prevent future health problems.

If quitting is difficult, they can talk to a doctor about support programs, nicotine patches, or other ways to help them stop.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of oral cancer. Alcohol can irritate the mouth’s tissues and make them more vulnerable to harmful substances.

If your parent drinks alcohol, they should limit their intake. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends no more than one drink per day for older adults. Drinking water instead of alcohol, especially with meals, can help keep their mouth healthy.

Get Regular Dental Checkups

Seeing the dentist regularly is important for preventing oral cancer. Dentists can spot early signs of cancer, such as sores, red or white patches, or lumps in the mouth.

If caught early, oral cancer is easier to treat. Your senior parent should visit the dentist at least twice a year. If they notice any unusual changes in their mouth, they should tell their dentist right away. Regular cleanings also help prevent infections and other problems that can lead to more serious health issues.

Eat a Healthy Diet

A diet full of fruits and vegetables can help protect against oral cancer. Foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E help keep the mouth’s tissues strong and healthy.

Leafy greens, berries, carrots, and citrus fruits are great choices. Your parent should also avoid processed meats and foods high in sugar, as these can increase cancer risks. Drinking plenty of water helps wash away harmful bacteria and keeps the mouth hydrated.

Protect Lips from the Sun

Many people don’t realize that too much sun exposure can lead to lip cancer. Seniors who spend time outdoors should protect their lips by using a lip balm with sunscreen.

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat can also help shade the face from the sun’s harmful rays. If they notice any persistent sores or changes in the color of their lips, they should have a doctor check it out.

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

Reaching Out to the Community

Posted on by ltcep2023

Hello Friends, Families and Friends. As we have explained, getting out into the community to share information on care is our favorite part of this business. Attached, please see our Community Liaison, Kira out doing what she loves. Discussing care with someone who has an interest in the options. To have Kira come out to discuss home care options with you, please feel free to contact us and she’ll be right out.

Have a great summer East Phoenix!!

Visiting with Our Wonderful Clients!

Posted on by ltcep2023

Hello Seniors, Families and Friends. As many of you know, getting out to see our clients is always the best part of our day here at Golden Heart Senior Care. Please see a picture of a happy Rodney out visiting clients. To set up an assessment for you wherever you are, please contact us at GoldenHeartScottsdale.com.

 

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

What Are the Signs of Caregiver Stress and Burnout?

Posted on by ltcep2023

There are so many reasons that family caregivers decide to take care of the people they love. Over time, those duties grow and become much larger, contributing to the stress that caregivers experience. If family caregivers don’t pay attention to self-care and reducing caregiver stress, they may eventually experience burnout. 24-hour home care is one solution that can help families to manage caregiving duties in a way that reduces stress and the likelihood of caregiver burnout.

Caregiver Stress vs. Burnout

Caregiver stress and burnout might sound at first as if they’re the same thing, but they’re different. In the most basic terms, stress is going to occur, but it’s manageable. Burnout happens if stress isn’t managed properly and continues to grow. Family caregivers can come back from the effects of stress and continue to take care of the seniors they love, but burnout can be so impactful that family caregivers have to step back altogether.

Symptoms of Caregiver Stress

Caregiver stress often presents as a situation where family caregivers feel overwhelmed or worried a lot of the time. They may also be tired and have difficulty with their sleep schedules. They may not be eating well or enough and their moods may be tough to manage. Having help from home care providers and taking time for self-care can reduce stress and allow family caregivers to recover a bit. It’s very common for family caregivers to notice these symptoms ramping up and start to realize that they need to take action to reduce their stress.

Burnout Symptoms

Burnout, on the other hand, can also have some of these symptoms, but they’re not alleviated through a few hours of rest. Family caregivers experiencing burnout may also find that they feel sad or frustrated most of the time and may no longer be interested in activities they used to love. Physical aches and pains, headaches, and other ailments may be more common than usual as well. Family caregivers approaching burnout may also start to have more trouble with substance abuse as a way to try to self-medicate.

Solving Stress and Burnout Before They’re Severe

The key to all of this for family caregivers is to reduce stress and burnout before they cause massive problems. Stress management gives family caregivers the opportunity to avoid serious repercussions from both stress and burnout. Working with experienced elder care providers ensures that seniors have the support they need while family caregivers can take time away to focus on their own needs.

Getting Around-the-clock Assistance

Around-the-clock help is another solution for families to consider. This type of help expands on what home care offers. 24-hour home care providers are available through the day and the night, which can allow family caregivers to get the sleep they desperately need in order to reduce stress and be ready for the demands of caregiving.

Taking better care of themselves allows family caregivers to take better care of the seniors in their charge. 24-hour home care providers offer valuable help during the day and overnight so that families have the support they need most.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Sun Lakes, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

Happy Birthday, Angela!

Posted on by ltcep2023

Hello Seniors, Families and Friends. One of the magnificent office members of Golden Heart has a birthday. Please join me in wishing our Office Manager Angela Happy Birthday. We are so lucky to have her on our team.

Congratulations, DB!

Posted on by ltcep2023

Hello Seniors, Families and Friends. As most of you are aware, here at Golden Heart Senior Care, we value our caregivers. In fact, we love to reward them for doing things right. Here is a caregiver DB. DB has been with us for about three years. Her clients love her and so do we. Here you see DB collecting on her rewards for doing a great job. Dee, please enjoy your Visa Gift Cards as much as your clients enjoy having your help. DB, we Heart you at Golden Heart.

Common Risk Factors for High Triglyceride Levels

Posted on by ltcep2023

March 28 is National Triglycerides Day. While it doesn’t have all of the big fanfare and attention of many other awareness days, understanding what triglycerides are and how they affect your health is an important part of helping your loved one stay in good health as well as yourself. Here are a few important things to know about triglycerides and how home care can help seniors improve overall health.

What are Triglycerides

Triglycerides are fats that come from food. Extra calories that are consumed, as well as alcohol and sugar in the body, turn into triglycerides. The body then stores them in fat cells throughout the body for future use. Triglycerides are a necessary part of the human body but problems begin to arise when a person has too many of them stored up and doesn’t use them.

Why High Levels of Triglycerides are Bad for Your Loved One’s Health

High triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia) can put a person at a higher risk of heart and vascular (blood vessel) disease. They can also increase the risk of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a painful and severe inflammation of the pancreas and can create a life-threatening health risk.

High triglyceride levels also increase your loved one’s risk of heart and vascular disease, including:

  • Carotid artery disease
  • Coronary artery disease including a possible heart attack.
  • Metabolic syndrome (a combination of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity).
  • Stroke
  • Peripheral artery disease

Risk Factors for Developing High Triglyceride Levels

Several health conditions or lifestyle choices can increase the risk of your loved one developing high triglyceride levels.

  • Being physically inactive
  • Excessive use of alcohol
  • Not managing blood sugar levels when diabetic
  • Having a diet that is primarily high in sugar, saturated fats, and simple carbohydrates
  • Liver disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Thyroid disease.
  • Inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Some medications can lead to higher levels of triglycerides like diuretics, hormones, corticosteroids, beta-blockers, and some HIV medications.
  • Having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25.
  • Being a smoker

Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce Triglyceride Levels

The good news about triglycerides is that they can be positively affected by making certain lifestyle changes. The bad news is that for many, changing a lifetime of certain habits or familiar patterns can be difficult. The older a person is, it’s often more difficult for them to make changes, so enlisting a support partner or two can be key to making lifestyle changes that make a difference in your loved one’s triglyceride levels.

Home care providers can help make certain changes to your loved one’s home life easier, especially when it comes to what he eats. Your loved one’s doctor may make recommendations for him to adjust his diet to become more heart-healthy by reducing unhealthy fats, increasing fiber, and decreasing the amount of carbohydrates he eats each day. While your loved one may have good intentions to follow the doctor’s orders, he might struggle with how to buy the correct foods at the market and then how to incorporate them into his daily meal plan.

A home care provider can step in and assist with his meals and his purchases to help him succeed. From making the grocery list to driving to the store, finding the right foods, and then bringing them home to prepare, a home care provider can set your loved one up for success from the very beginning.

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

Sharing Great Info with Seniors!

Posted on by ltcep2023

Hello Seniors, families and Friends. We love to share information with seniors. Here, please see our Community Liaison Kira setting up for a health fair. Thank you Kira for availing yourself to share information with seniors.

Compassionate Assistance for Seniors with Mental Health Conditions

Posted on by ltcep2023

When seniors deal with mental health conditions, they need support that goes beyond just hands-on assistance. Emotional and psychological support goes a long way toward improving quality of life and overall well-being. Senior home care providers offer compassionate assistance that makes life easier for aging adults battling mental health conditions, helping them feel safe and understood as they age in place.

Understanding Mental Health for Seniors

Mental health issues are more common for aging adults than many family caregivers realize. That makes them easy to overlook at times, which makes them more difficult to treat. Conditions like anxiety, depression, and more affect emotional well-being as well and that can have a magnifying effect for seniors. Loneliness and isolation further complicate the problem. What makes a difference is for aging adults to find compassionate support to help them through the tougher times.

Home Care Makes a Difference

Senior home care providers understand the difficulties that can go hand in hand with mental health issues. Professional caregivers are there to offer hands-on support primarily, but they also pay attention to what’s going on with seniors. Home care offers companionship, which helps to combat loneliness. Caregivers also listen to seniors and offer them empathetic support. The biggest support that senior home care offers might be that caregivers look at every senior’s situation as a unique situation instead of trying a cookie-cutter approach.

Care Plans Adapt

Compassionately coping with mental health conditions means that care plans need to be flexible enough to adapt to seniors’ needs, especially while they’re continuing to change. Caregivers can help seniors to establish daily routines that help them feel more comfortable and confident in their activities. Engaging in fun activities, daily movement, and social activities all help seniors to balance their mental health as well as possible.

Seniors Get Emotional Support

Daily emotional support is not just nice for seniors to experience. It is also a big part of helping seniors to feel heard and supported on a deeper level. That emotional support helps seniors to experience better moods, less stress, and a better overall outlook on their lives. Senior home care providers remind seniors they matter and that their needs aren’t a burden.

Practical Support Matters, Too

Senior home care providers do offer hands-on support with daily tasks as well. Knowing they aren’t alone and don’t have to struggle to complete everyday tasks can do a lot to offer mental and emotional relief to seniors. As seniors experience bigger challenges with doing everyday tasks, they might find that their mental health struggles increase. Having help with household tasks, personal care, and more allows seniors to relax and enjoy more of their daily lives.

Approaching mental health conditions compassionately is a solid way to help seniors cope with the challenges they’re facing. Senior home care providers can do so much to make life easier for seniors and family caregivers alike. They also lead with empathy, ensuring that seniors feel loved and supported, even when they are facing tough days and big challenges.

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

Welcome Back, JC!

Posted on by ltcep2023

Hello Seniors, Families and Friends. Today is a happy day. Today, we welcome back a caregiver that has been with us for about 7 years. His picture is above and his initials are JC. JC took some time off for personal reasons. We are happy to have him back because he is a great guy and an even better caregiver. JC, welcome back.