The decision to become a family caregiver for an aging parent in the Florida area can be one of the most challenging and rewarding choices you’ll ever make. Naturally, when taking a dive into elder home care you want to ensure that your senior loved one receives the best care available; so how do you prepare to become a caregiver? Start by arming yourself with information; use the internet, like you are now, and other home care resources to learn how to deal with the emotional aspects of caregiving.  Seek out additional resources within your local Florida community; including caregiver support groups, transportation services, adult day cares and local medical centers. Whether or not you and your senior will require some of the services today, it’s wise to have an understanding of what’s available when you need them.

It’s also important to work with your parents to have all the legal and financial documentation prepared and available should you need to assist them in managing their affairs. Ask them to put together a list of important account numbers and contacts and keep it in a safe and secure place. You don’t need to be savvy to the information today, but it’s a good idea to have it available. You should also ensure that your parents have a living will prepared, so that you can ensure their medical wishes are carried out appropriately if at some point they are unable to speak for themselves.

Sources:

1. Associated Content

2. Adsense Blog

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Q – I’m a family caregiver for an elderly grandparent in Florida. At the caregiver support group I attend, someone introduced the idea of a geriatric assessment. What does it involve and how could it benefit my grandparent?

A – First of all, it’s very commendable that you are seeking support within your local community from other caregivers, and as I’m sure you’re discovering, they can be great resources to learn about care options in Florida. Geriatric assessments can be completed by medical professionals, such as doctors or nurses in a variety of settings, including an outpatient clinic, hospital, or even your grandparent’s home. Often, geriatric assessments are recommended to older adults who are exhibiting signs of confusion, memory loss or dementia; but can be requested by anyone who wants professional insight from a healthcare perspective about improving and forecasting eldercare.

A geriatric assessment involves the following:

• Assessing a senior’s status by looking at physical, mental and psycho-social; factors; their ability to perform activities of daily living independently, and any care they currently receive

• Identifying problems that might be present based on the senior’s status now or in the future

• Developing a “Care Plan” with recommendations for support services

• Helping seniors attain the support they require

• Monitoring the success of the care plan

Sources:
1. HelpGuide
2. Southwestern Medical Center

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Easter can be fun for the whole family, whether you celebrate it for religious reasons or for the joy of the spring season. For many seniors, one of the most welcomed gifts would be to spend time with family; however, families can also show the senior’s in their lives how appreciated they are this Easter with fun Easter baskets, that fit the senior’s needs and interests and let them know their family is thinking of them. Easter gift ideas for seniors that can be included in a seasonal basket include:

•    Assistance with medical care – gift certificates for health stores and pharmacies to help them to pay for their medications and vitamins can be placed in an Easter basket to alleviate a senior’s costs.
•    Informative books and magazines – reading materials about senior lifestyle and healthy living might help them to reach their goals in their elderly years.
•    Pampering products – include products or gift certificates in the gift basket to allow seniors to relax and feel pampered. Purchase bubble baths, lotions or candles for their home or spa gift certificates.
•    Scrapbooking and photography – include a scrapbooking kit and family photos, or other craft items that a senior can complete with a family member, friend or caregiver.
•    Gardening kits and plants – provide a senior with gardening tools, plants or flowers to bring joy to their home.

Sources:
1.    Associated Content
2.   Ideamarketers

Images:  Montgomery Churches Website

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

According to a report published by the AARP, in 2007 the economic value of family caregivers would have been $375 billion if they had been paid for their home care assistance. However, it is the value of family caregivers that cannot be measured monetarily that makes a far more substantial impact on the lives of seniors they provide home care for.

Family caregivers sacrifice greatly to provide help to their senior relatives in need. A great majority of family caregivers are men and women with full or part-time careers, which they balance along with their in-home senior care responsibilities and providing care for their immediate family and often, young children. Family caregivers sacrifice in order to better the lives of their senior relatives or parents, by identifying the aspects of home life that seniors are struggling with and providing their assistance; allowing seniors to remain at home with some resemblance of an independent lifestyle that doesn’t require them to live in a community living facility for the elderly.

Sometimes seniors become resentful of their caregivers, and forget to place value upon what they’re sacrificing to improve the senior’s lifestyle, because they are resentful of the loss of independence that has occurred due to the aging process. So seniors asking for help from their families or hiring a caregiver need to remember just how valuable a contribution a caregiver can make to the life of a senior.

Sources:
1.    AARP
2.   National Family Caregiver’s Association

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.