App Provides Information for Caregivers

The Geriatrics Cultural Navigator is a new App from iPhone that is a great tool for caregivers. When dealing with multiple patients, caregivers will often find that there are different races and cultures that have an effect on the decisions made regarding the health care of a senior. This new App can provide a lot of essential information, helping caregivers to make the right decisions.

1. The App has been developed by the American Geriatrics Society and offers decision-making support for caregivers.

2. In nursing homes, cultural and racial sensitivity is very important, so this App can really help caregivers who are working in this setting.

3. The App provides valuable information when dealing with people from different cultures, including how to address individuals, types of nonverbal communication and culture-specific health risks.

4. Gender issues and various approaches to decision-making are also provided in the App.

5. This App is a great tool for any person who is in the role of a caregiver. Even if the caregiver is familiar with a particular culture or ethnic group, the App can provide some useful tips when dealing with patients and making important decisions in regards to health care.

6. The App also gives caregivers information on cultural traditions and the different health beliefs that seniors may have due to their ethnicity or cultural beliefs.

Source: http://changingaging.org/2010/08/24/race-eldercare-and-iphone-apps/

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Facts About Care Coordination for Seniors

Many seniors need some extra help at home. This could be as simple as someone to help them make arrangements for doctor’s appointments or as complex as the need for assistance finding outside resources. This is where a care coordinator comes into play. This person will be responsible for making sure the senior is safe and healthy. Below is a short list that provides some information about the responsibilities of a care coordinator.

1.    The gathering of information from all healthcare providers. This means collecting important medical information from each doctor that treats the senior.

2.    The care coordinator must be able to effectively assess the home environment as well as the needs of the person receiving care.

3.    Coordinators must be able to find private services and resources that will meet the needs of the senior.

4.    There must always be ongoing communication between all of the parties involved. This includes the individual receiving care, the caregivers, doctors and family members. It is important to keep all those involved up to date.

5.    The care coordinator should also be able to assess daily situations to make sure the senior is in fact receiving all of the services they need to function. If there is something that changes with the senior’s health, changes to the type of care and services they receive may be required.

Source: http://www.nfcacares.org/pdfs/CareManagmt.pdf

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Sleeping Tips Benefit Seniors

Sleep is essential in order for seniors to maintain their health. When seniors do not sleep well at night, their whole life will be affected. They will be drowsy during the day, have the inability to concentrate and may become anxious and stressed. The list below provides seniors with some useful tips that can help them get better sleep and begin to enjoy the days better.

1. Do not drink coffee or tea before going to bed. Some doctors suggest stopping drinking caffeine by 2 in the afternoon so it has time to leave the body.

2. Do not eat a heavy meal before going to bed. Some foods can help seniors sleep, such as whole wheat pasta, fresh vegetables and chicken breast. Late night snackers should choose cottage cheese with fruit slices.

3. Avoid wine before retiring for the night. Have a glass of wine at dinner, but no later.

4. Take baths earlier in the day. While some people may become relaxed after a bath, it will raise the body temperature and make it difficult to sleep.

5. Gentle stretching may help seniors sleep better. Avoid excessive exercising before bed, but yoga can help relax the body and the mind.

6. Keep the room dark and cool. Dim lights around the house a few hours before bedtime, using the least amount of light as possible.

7. Shut off cell phones and computers at least an hour before bed. This will help seniors unwind and let the day end.

Source: CNN

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Choosing a Nursing Home for a Senior

When caregivers are faced with making the decision on a nursing home, there are many issues and factors that must be taken into consideration. The main concern is that the medical needs of the seniors will be met. To ensure this, there are some important things to look for when comparing various nursing homes. Below is some information on how to judge a nursing home and make the right choice.

1. Always ask to talk to the nurses’ aides. These are the people that will be spending the most time with the senior.

2. Most nursing homes will deny this request because there is such a high turnover rate of aides. There are very few nursing homes that staff aides for any length of time.

3. More than 70 percent of aides and nursing assistants will change jobs within the year.

4. When talking to aides and assistants, always ask how long they have been doing this kind of work and how long they have been at this nursing home.

5. When you are able to find a home that has a low turnover rate and a reliable staff, this may be a good choice.

6. The key is to look for a nursing home that has a constant staff. When a senior is in a nursing home, they should be able to rely on people and having the same aides for a long period of time is very beneficial.

Source: New Old Age Blogs

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Older Men Being Caregivers

Being a caregiver is a difficult thing to do. There are many things you will now be responsible for. For many men, this is an overwhelming thing. They are not used to being the one to provide the care in the home. When this happens, many men will be reluctant to do certain things, such as helping with hygiene. This is very common. Below is a list of some other things that men will deal with as a caregiver.

1. Most men who become a caregiver will take a different approach than a female. Men are more apt to take on executive or long-distance tasks, such as dealing with the insurance companies or making appointments.

2. Men are only half as likely to perform hands on tasks when they are a caregiver.

3. The men who do help with daily tasks, such as dressing and showering may be reluctant to discuss their role. It seems as though they are slightly embarrassed about having to be the caregiver.

4. Many of these men will suffer from depression and feelings of inadequacy when they are a caregiver. This is actually quite normal. They have a hard time talking about their role with others because of how they feel it will make them look.

Source: AARP

Home Care Jacksonville, Elder Care Fort Walton, Senior Care Melbourne, FL, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Combining Generations in One Household

Whether you’re a senior yourself or have an older adult in your life, you’ve likely considered joining forces to live together under one household. You may have different reasons for thinking about this, but you’ll find the same benefits of bringing all family members together.

1. The state of the economy – the economy has hit many people hard and families have to rely on each other for support. This has often been one factor that has influenced families in brining seniors into their homes to provide physical care as well as financial assistance across the board

2. There is a growing senior population – 16% of the American population lives in a multi-generational household. Numbers are increasing as there are more seniors living to older adulthood who may require care and support, or find it important to be surrounded by family

3. People are marrying later – younger generations on average aren’t starting families until their mid to late 20’s, so many people in their early 20’s remain at home which puts more adult generations under one roof

4. Focus upon independence – seniors and their families are no longer focused upon aging in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, so living with a family member can create a care option focused upon independence

Via: Pew Research Center

Home Care Jacksonville, Elder Care Fort Walton, Senior Care Melbourne, FL, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

With Mother’s Day coming up this week, it’s time to show appreciation to those mothers who have been there for us throughout our lives. Those mothers who we are there for now that they are aging. But while we appreciate them, we may not know how Mother’s Day came about. There are a number of different historical perspectives from different cultures and all of them recognize that joy and appreciation of motherhood.

•    Egyptian Roots with the Goddess Isis – in ancient Egypt, an annual festival was held to honour the goddess Isis, considered the mother of the pharaohs.

•    Ancient Roman History with Cybele – initially in Roman tradition, Isis was also recognized, marking the beginning of winter with a 3-day celebration. However, Mother’s Day also recognizes the Phrygian goddess Cybele who was Rome’s version of Rhea, considered the mother of many of the major deities. These celebrations were said to be very wild, and were banned until later the focus shifted to giving flowers and eating cake

•    European History for Lent and the Mother Church – in Europe, on the fourth Sunday lent, individuals honoured the church where they were baptized which was known as the “Mother Church”. Flowers and jewels were placed around the place of worship as offerings.

These Mother’s Day celebrations of the past have similarities to what is celebrated here today in Canada on the second Sunday of May.

Mother’s Day Central

Home Care Jacksonville, Elder Care Fort Walton, Senior Care Melbourne, FL, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Our Florida Caregivers help seniors live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Senior Parents

It is not easy to provide care and assistance to an aging parent. Many caregivers find that senior parents are the number one cause for stress. This can be avoided by following some of the tips below. These tips will help you remain sane when caring for an elderly parent, while at the same time allowing you to provide the care they need.

1. Practice coping strategies. This may be different for every caregiver. Some people just need to find a way to escape from their role for a few minutes each day in order to regroup.

2. Know just how much care is needed. Many seniors will rely on a caregiver if the caregiver offers to do everything. This is not the best way to provide care to an aging parent. It is important for seniors to stay as active as possible and this can mean still having responsibilities. Make sure you set limits and know exactly what things seniors need assistance with and what they can still do on their own.

3. Caregivers should also know how to recognize the signs of decline. This can be difficult to accept, but these signs may indicate the need for further assistance.

4. Gain as much knowledge as possible by using online resources. There is a lot of information available for caretakers.

5. Keep a sense of humor and make sure to take time for yourself. These two things can play a huge role in maintaining your sanity.

Source:  http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/05/15/oprah.caring.for.parents/index.html#cnnSTCText

New Developments in Alzheimer’s Prevention

Scientists are constantly trying to find early signs of Alzheimer’s that may provide an opportunity for treatment or prevention of the disease. Since there currently is no cure, or any major developments that can help prevent Alzheimer’s, these discoveries can help detect trends that will lead in the right direction. Here is information on the latest discovery in Alzheimer’s:

• There is a brain plaque that is detectable in the brain long before any cognitive decline begins to surface

• The plaque referred to as amyloid –beta has been discovered to cause damage when present in certain areas of the hippocampus

• Previously, it was known that the plaque was present in seniors with Alzheimer’s, but it was unknown if it was toxic or if its presence was coincidental

• The presence of the plaque can cause neurons to die, which can be related to cognitive decline

• Since there’s no way to redevelop neurons that have already died, further research is necessary to see if there is a way to prevent the build up of this plaque earlier before it causes irreversible damage

Via: Herald Sun http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/brain-plaque-could-cause-alzheimers-study-reveals/story-e6frf7jx-1225846141143

Home Care Florida, Elder Care Florida, Senior Care Melbourne, FL, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Florida Non Medical Care helps seniors live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Seniors have to deal with declining health on a daily basis. As we age, the body begins to function differently. It is important for seniors to be aware of warning signs. These signs could indicate the onset of a serious medical problem. With early detection and treatment, many illnesses can be addressed. The following list contains some warning signs.

1. If seniors suddenly lose interest in something they previously enjoyed, there is cause for concern. This includes socializing with friends, involving themselves in hobbies or losing interest in physical activity.

2. When seniors become less active, there may be an underlying problem. It is important to talk to a doctor when seniors begin to be less physically active on a day to day basis.

3. Be aware of how seniors move. If they normally move at a normal pace and suddenly begin to slow down, there may be a medical reason. Seniors should try to remain as active as possible. If they suddenly walk differently, make sure to talk to a doctor.

4. Seniors who begin to lose weight rapidly and have changes in appetite or eating habits could have a medical problem. These changes are unhealthy and should always be taken seriously. Be sure to report any changes in weight or eating habits to a doctor.

5. Many seniors do not walk as well as younger adults. However, if seniors begin to wobble when they walk, this is a warning sign. Seniors who lose their balance could have a medical problem that needs treatment.

Source: getmommoving.com

Home Care Florida, Elder Care Florida, Senior Care Melbourne, FL, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464..