Posts Tagged ‘caregiving’

Caring For a Senior Family Member at Home

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Taking care of a loved one at home after a major illness or surgery can be an overwhelming task both physically and mentally. The responsibilities are challenging for both the one being cared for and those taking the lead for the primary care. In some cases the recovering family member may have some reservations and an unwillingness to ask their son or daughter to give up a job to care for them. In these cases, having professional home care Chapel Hill, NC can help in easing the patients concerns and allow both family members and the one being cared for with more quality time together.

In almost all cases, there are going to be reasons that your loved one may not want to consider the option of in-home health care. Therefore, it is important before relying on home care Durham NC to provide part or full responsibilities for the patients care to listen to your loved one’s concerns. Take time to note what they may be worried about and go over these during interviews while searching for just the right care service.

One of the first arguments you may hear is that your loved one doesn’t believe they need help. So, in these cases while discussing senior care Chapel Hill NC that you let your loved one know having outside help is more for your peace of mind- which in almost all situations is the reason for seeking care. Taking care of our loved ones isn’t about physically being there 24/7 but knowing that when we can’t be there someone competent and committed to their wellbeing will be but without taking away their feelings of independence.

Home care not only provides in-home medical care but can also take on some of the errands outside of the home, if the recovering loved one is a bit apprehensive about a new person in the house. As the care worker becomes more familiar to the loved one, trust and friendship is gained and can facilitate a working relationship that benefits both the patient and the family.

While recovering at home, most physicians strongly suggest that the family employ outside assistance. Therefore, if there may be other reasons that the patient balks at this kind of service, the family can simply counter that argument with the physician’s release orders from the hospital. Usually this will end the resistance and facilitate the transition from hospital to home care, in Durham, Clayton, or Chapel Hill NC.

At one time or another, most families will face taking care of a loved one, whether that be during recovery or for end of life care. And there are no easy answers or ways to ease all the burdens placed on those family members. These people are trained in medical or physical care as well as dealing with the inevitable emotional strains. The one saving grace is that there are people trained and ready to take some of the responsibilities from the family and allow everyone to be more at ease with the situation. Today, with these advances in care, many families are able to care for loved ones at home, where both the patient and the family are most at ease.

Written by Jenny Heart. Quality home care Durham NC: Receive senior care Chapel Hill NC, alzheimer’s and elder care through home care Chapel Hill NC, Clayton, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Heart

Leaving Your Elders In Safe Hands

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Our elderly parents very often need our support to help them to settle in their retired lives. While trying to find a solution to the issue, we may come across all types of services that are available for taking care of senior citizens. Due to your preoccupation with a job and having your own family to look after, you may not be able to provide them support. In such a case, adult day care can prove to be a blessing for many. Adult day care is beneficial to those senior citizens who need the company of people during daytime.

However, when you decide to utilize the services of an adult day care center for your elderly mother or father, ensure that they are also involved in the decision – making. The thought of adult day care center is very upsetting for an elderly parent, because it gives them a feeling of being neglected , or being treated as an infant who needs looking after. It is best to avoid using the phrase ‘adult day care’ while making the suggestion, as the elderly are sensitive people and may think you are putting them away, someplace.

There may be church programs in your local parish that the senior citizens can attend to pass their time rewardingly, and many prefer to do so. The other option is, of course, a day care center where they can enjoy the company of other like minded people. The ideal way to find a suitable adult day care center is to conduct a tour along with your elderly parent to find out what options exist locally, and make the choice together. You may, however want to get some prior information regarding the adult day care center by making enquiries with them. Some of the pertinent questions could be:
• Is transportation facility available at the assisted care facilities? Does that facility continue to operate all day? This is needed so that your parent does not get stranded at the facility for lack of transportation.
• Do they have qualified medical personnel to attend to the elderly, in case there is any kind of medical emergency?
• Is there an arrangement for food and beverages for a day-long stay? Are the food services sensitive to diet restrictions prescribed by the doctor? This would be a pertinent question if your parent is a diabetic and has to follow a restricted diet.
• How many elders are present at the care center on any given day? Too few would imply that the center is not providing good service and too many would mean lack of attention for your parent in the large crowd.
• What are the costs involved?

The activities and entertainment provided for the elderly at the adult day care center are an incentive for them to go there. For example, during the football season, if the center provides a place for all the men to gather and cheer for the game, it will be more enjoyable for your dad rather than being alone in the apartment watching the game. If the adult day care center has a variety of activities like card games or puzzles that appeal to everyone, then it will be a fun place for your parent to pass their time.

Arranging for a good adult day care center to take care of your elderly father or mother takes a load off your mind. Before making a decision to select the center for your parent, it would be a good idea to get a feel of the place by talking to the staff and spending some time yourself to gauge the atmosphere. This way, you are sure that your parent is well taken care of and passing the time in a healthy and friendly environment. They will get to know more people and generally enjoy the time spent at the center. This will prove to be invigorating for them and they will eat and sleep better, thus solving a number of problems associated with old age.

http://www.articlesbase.com/elderly-care-articles/adult-day-care-center-leaving-your-elders-in-safe-hands-740217.html

Indianapolis, Indiana Baby Boomers are Caring for Parents and Children

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Here is a great article for those who are caring for aging parents from www.Agingcare.com.

Indianapolis, Indiana Families Plan for Eldercare

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Family Reunion–a Good Time for Family Planning

Summertime brings a lot of family time. With family reunions, picnics, weddings and other events, long distant family members travel to gather together. It is also the perfect time to do some planning for the future. With parents aging and their health and lifestyles changing, children need to discuss some changes and decisions that will be needed in the near future. Parents should take the time to tell their children where important documents are kept and what their wishes are in the event of needing health care directives or experiencing long term care needs.

For those children who live away, the change they see in their parent’s health and mental capacity may be alarming — whereas siblings that have daily contact are working with these issues constantly. Here is the chance to compare notes and work together as a complete family in the long term care planning process.

For you parents who are well and active, this is a good time to hold a family meeting and share with your children your plan for long term care. Tell them where financial and legal documents are located. Review health care directives, living wills and long term care alternatives.

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Elder Care in Indianapolis, Indiana

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Elder care shifting away from nursing homes

Here is a great article I found in USA Today that is helpful for anyone considering an adult day care center, assisted living facility or hiring a geriatric care manager in the Indianapolis IN area.

When Your Loved One Resists Care in Indianapolis Indiana

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Here is an article I found that is very helpful for caregivers who are struggling with the loved one they are trying so hard to care for.

Problems with Poorly Prepared Family Caregivers

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Some caregivers, willingly or unwillingly, fail to provide the level of care necessary to nurture loved ones at home. Here are some of the problems that derive from unprepared or overloaded caregivers. Caregiver Neglect. If the caregiver can spend only minimal time in the morning and evening and will be absent the rest of the day, those receiving care quite often become imprisoned by their environment. They receive little or no social stimulus and may spend day after day just sleeping or watching television. They typically get no exercise other than moving to or from the bathroom and often they suffer from poor nutrition and dehydration due to lack of adequate food and fluid intake. Drinking and eating are deliberately avoided to lessen trips to the bathroom or to avoid soiling a diaper. Malnutrition and dehydration often result in poor mental reasoning or stupor, thus contributing to the daily routine of only sitting, sleeping and enduring the TV. This is not a noble way to finish one’s life. Harried caregivers are doing these people an injustice by keeping them imprisoned in this manner at home. Care recipients should either be in a good adult day services center or in a stimulating environment of an assisted living facility or the family should sacrifice, spend money and bring in full-time aides to provide more adequate care. Self-Neglect Self-neglect is where the care recipient is not interested enough or is incapable of taking care of his or her own needs. This may mean not eating or drinking enough or not attending to personal hygiene. It may mean allowing garbage to accumulate in the home or having pets that are unattended leaving feces and urine in living spaces. There may be a caregiver involved but for whatever reason the caregiver is not stimulating that person receiving care to take care of him or herself or the home environment. And for whatever reason the caregiver is not providing needed help. Self-neglect with or without a caregiver is actually a form of elder abuse and in some states it is required by law that its existence be reported. A caregiver allowing this to happen could be criminally charged. Failure to Bring in Help This is probably the biggest mistake caregivers make. Perhaps, in order to save money to use when the loved one is gone or because they think they are “tough” many caregivers will not ask for help. Or it is common for caregivers to become so involved with their loved one that they isolate themselves from others. This isolation makes them reluctant to contact those who can help. Or a child may try to provide care from a long distance away and find it difficult or impossible to do. Regardless of the cause, failure to ask for help or to hire help can have dire consequences on the welfare of the care recipient and the caregiver. If you are a caregiver please do not allow yourself to fall into the situations described above. Seek help and involve other members of the family if you are overburdened. To learn more about caregiving and find support see Aging Avenues, Indianapolis’ complete Elder Care Guide.

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How Can Social Support Ease Caregiver Stress in Indianapolis Indiana?

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Here is a great article I found that I wanted to share. The original article can be found at http://www.alzinfo.org/alzheimers-caregiving.asp#3.

Silver Alert Helps Find Missing Seniors

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

The Indiana Govenor signed into law the new Silver Alert system to help locate missing seniors. With four seniors having gone missing this week alone we need this service. Most importantly these alerts will help make families more aware of how often someone who has alzheimer’s and lives alone can just one day wander off and not remember how to get back. Unfortunately there is not perdiction when the wandering will begin so you have to be prepared. Everyone with memory issues should be wearing an ID bracelet. Although I do not advocate that anyone with memory issues should be living alone families should have a watch plan in place. Alerting their neighbors, local businesses they frequent and friends that there is a concern and to keep an eye on them. Make sure they have your phone number. There are great monitoring systems that allow you to check in on them remotely or that a company monitors their activity and alerts you if there’s a concern as well as gps tracking devices available. Aging Avenues can help you develop a plan so that when safety issues occur, and they will, that you’re not in a crisis.