Craig Bass, Author at Golden Heart Clermont

How Personal Care at Home Helps Long-Distance Family Caregivers

Posted on February 8, 2022August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

Personal Care at Home in Center Hill FL

About one out of ten caregivers live at least an hour from their parents. You live in another state, but your parents need additional help if they’re going to retain their independence while aging at home. What do you do when you live too far away to help more than once or twice a year?

Research Personal Care at Home

Look into personal care at home services. Instead of hoping your parents are okay every day, you can hire caregivers to stop in each day or once a week and see how they’re doing. If they need anything, the home care aide takes care of things for you.

Suppose the caregiver arrives and finds your parents are out of milk and eggs. The caregiver helps them create a shopping list and takes them to the store. They have a helper when it comes to reading store pricing labels and carrying the bags from the car and into the house.

Personal care at home can help with organization and scheduling. Your mom and dad have different care needs, so their medical appointments often overlap. Instead of struggling to figure it out, the personal care aide can arrange appointments in a manner that makes them easy to manage. If your mom and dad are going to be in the same building, they could have appointments that follow each other or occur at the same time.

Your parents have caregivers available to help them with housekeeping. They don’t have to struggle to carry the hamper to the laundry room. Your dad no longer has to mop and vacuum. Caregivers can also cook their meals and do the dishes after.

How Do You Get Started?

It’s time to call your mom and dad and talk about their daily routines. Where do they struggle, and what do they still find easy to do? Make a list and come up with the most critical care needs from what they can’t do. That’s where caregivers are needed.

Just because you live miles from your mom isn’t reason enough to put her at risk. With the helping hand from personal care at home aides, your mom has the help she needs without you needing to move to her hometown.

Every week or so, the home care agency gives you a report. You always know how your parents are doing with their caregiver’s help. If new services are needed, or some care services seem unnecessary, you’ll learn more about that and make adjustments.

Talk to a personal care at home agency to learn more about the services that help your mom and dad remain independent at home. Ask questions, get prices, and finish the call by scheduling services.

Sources:
https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2021/05/caregiving-in-the-united-states-50-plus.doi.10.26419-2Fppi.00103.022.pdf

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Center Hill, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.

Top Things to Know About Cataracts in Senior Citizens

Posted on January 27, 2022August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

Home Care Assistance in Clermont FL

There are numerous vision issues that senior citizens face. One of the common issues is cataracts. Is this something that you have been worrying about with your elderly loved one? If so, there are some things that you may want or need to know about cataracts in senior citizens. Once you know more about this health condition, you can do better at helping your elderly loved one to get treatment for it if they have it or prevent it if they don’t have it yet.

Getting Regular Eye Exams

All elderly people should get regular eye exams. With so many vision issues that often present themselves in the elderly, it is important that each senior citizen is seeing their eye doctor regularly. With most vision problems, catching them early on gives more of a chance for successful treatment options. If your elderly loved one does have cataracts, they may need glasses. Even if they already have glasses, they may need an altered prescription. In addition, if there is a diagnosis of cataracts, your elderly loved one may need home care assistance providers to help them out with various tasks throughout the day.

Light Issues

Senior citizens or anyone else that has cataracts will experience lighting issues. For example, people who have this health condition often need to have non-glare lights in their house. There are many different places where you or a home care provider can pick up these types of lights. Many of the local home improvement stores have these light options. If needed, you or a home care assistance provider may also need to adjust the blinds or shades on the windows in your elderly loved one’s house to reduce their sensitivity to light.

Better Eye Care Outdoors

Another issue that your elderly loved one may have to deal with is their eyesight outdoors. Unfortunately, for people who have cataracts, the sunlight can affect their vision. This is especially true on days when the sun is glaring. It is very important that you or a home care assistance provider picks up anti-glare, UV protection sunglasses for your elderly loved one. If they won’t remember to wear these glasses, make sure one of you reminds them to wear the glasses whenever they will be headed outside on sunny days.

Conclusion

These are some of the things that you may want or need to know about cataracts in senior citizens. Now that you are aware of this health condition, you can do better at helping your elderly loved one to get treatment for this issue.

Sources
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Clermont, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.

Is It COVID, a Cold, the Flu, or Something Else?

Posted on January 11, 2022August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

24-Hour Home Care in Webster FL

Your dad is sick. He’s feverish, coughing, and so very tired. How can you tell if he has the flu, a bad cold, or COVID-19? What if it’s something else? Check out the differences between them.

What Are the Common Symptoms of Each?

Determining if it’s the cold, the flu, or COVID-19 can be tricky as symptoms vary from one person to another. For many people, COVID-19 causes a loss of taste or smell. That can help you determine if your dad could have COVID.

While the flu and COVID can cause fevers, coughing, and lethargy, the flu is not likely to impact taste and smell. Your dad’s body may ache with the flu, especially the joints.

A cold is often less severe than the flu or COVID. A runny nose and cough are common symptoms. Depending on whether it’s a head cold or a chest cold, the congestion will be noticeable in different body areas. A head cold will have your sinuses congested and may cause a headache and sinus pain, while a chest cold may have more of a cough and congestion when you take a deep breath.

Your dad may have a virus that doctors don’t feel is any of them. He could be experiencing allergies to things in the air or in foods he’s eaten.

What Do You Do If You Suspect Your Dad is Seriously Ill?

What if your dad seems to be having difficulty eating and drinking enough? He’s struggling to stay awake. His fever is high, and it’s worrying you.

Call his doctor if you have any concerns. He may need to go to the office and get tested to determine if it’s the flu, COVID-19, or a cold. Some viruses don’t fit into any of those categories, and you’ll learn what to do to help your dad recover.

If your dad’s doctor recommends he goes to the hospital, ask about home care services. With a balance of caregivers and home health nurses, he may be able to avoid a stay in the hospital. It never hurts to ask and see what his doctor thinks.

When your dad is sick, make sure he’s supported with the care services he needs. With 24-hour home care services, your dad has someone awake and ready to help. If he wakes at 2 a.m. and needs a drink, his caregiver is there.

Make arrangements for 24-hour home care services today. Pick up the phone, call and talk to a specialist, and schedule the care he needs until he’s feeling better.

Your dad’s fine, but you’re not. If you’re sick, don’t spread your virus to him. Let caregivers provide 24-hour respite care services until you’re healthy again.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Webster, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.

Which Teas Are Healthiest for Senior Citizens?

Posted on December 28, 2021August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

Elder Care in Mascotte FL

There are many drinks that are healthy. If you are caring for your elderly loved one, one drink that you or elder care providers may want to get them is tea. Research shows that various teas have health benefits such as improved heart health, fighting off illnesses, and much more. Read about which teas are the healthiest for senior citizens here today.

Black Tea

One of the teas that you or elder care providers may want to get for your elderly loved one is black tea. This tea is filled with antioxidants. Research shows that it can help with the following:

Clearing up digestive issues
Relieving asthma symptoms
Lowering bad cholesterol
Reducing the risk of some types of cancer

If your elderly loved one isn’t a huge fan of black tea, there are some ways to make it taste better, such as adding honey to it.

Green Tea

Another tea that you should serve to or get for your elderly loved one is green tea. Over the years, more studies have come out regarding this type of tea. It is filled with flavonoids, antioxidants, and many other healthy nutrients. Some benefits green tea can have for your elderly loved one include:

Losing weight
Improving energy levels
Reducing the risk of cancer

Talk to your elderly loved one about whether they usually drink this type of tea. If not, recommend they get some and drink it regularly. There are multiple types of green tea they can get.

Chamomile Tea

Your elderly loved one could benefit from drinking chamomile tea, as well. Some of the many benefits of this type of tea include:

Relieving hormonal symptoms
Improving sleep
Relieving stress and anxiety
Can relieve skin irritation when applied directly to the spot that is bothersome

As you can see the number of benefits just from this list is quite significant. There are many other ways that chamomile tea can help your elderly loved one, too.

Ginger Tea

You should also encourage your elderly loved one to drink ginger tea. The health benefits of ginger are quite well known. Some of those benefits include:

Relieving nausea and upset stomach
Reducing inflammation
Boosting energy

These are just a few of the many health benefits of ginger tea.

Conclusion

If your elderly loved one isn’t currently drinking much tea, you or an elder care provider may want to talk to them about that. Drinking tea regularly, especially any one or more of these teas, can help to improve your elderly loved one’s health.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4055352/

If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Mascotte, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.

Fighting the Aging Process: Here Are Some Foods to Add to Your Diet

Posted on December 9, 2021August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

Companion Care at Home in Clermont FL

What does your elderly loved one normally eat from day to day? Do you or their companion care at home providers find they eat a lot of unhealthy foods? If that is the case, you should talk to them about how those foods are likely speeding up the aging process. You should also talk to your elderly loved one about how they can replace those foods with healthy foods to fight the aging process.

Fatty Fish

There are different types of fatty fish that can help your elderly loved one to fight the aging process. Research shows that this type of fish can boost heart health, improve energy, and help with weight loss. All these things can help your elderly loved one to not only feel better about themselves but help them feel and look younger, too. Some of the best fatty fish options for fighting the aging process include tuna, salmon, and sardines. Professionals recommend that senior citizens eat 2 servings of this type of fish every week.

Nuts

Your elderly loved one should also add nuts to their diet if they want to fight the aging process. Research shows that almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and Brazil nuts can all help to slow down the aging process. They are filled with fiber and protein – both of which can improve heart health and overall health. It is recommended that senior citizens eat nuts 5 times a week. You or a companion care at home provider can add the nuts to your elderly loved one’s cereal, oatmeal, or to other meals.

Berries

There are also many berries that would be great for your elderly loved one if they want to fight the aging process. Research shows that many berries can help to lower blood pressure and improve the health of blood vessels. If your elderly loved one is already experiencing high blood pressure or blood vessel issues, make sure they start eating berries regularly. The sooner they do, the more it can help to improve their health. In addition, when these health issues are under control, it can help your elderly loved one to feel more energized and feel younger, too.

Conclusion

There are many ways that your elderly loved one can fight the aging process. They can start by adding the foods that are mentioned here into their diet. If you don’t feel that your elderly loved one will remember to put these foods on their grocery list, you or a companion care at home provider can do it for them.

Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/anti-aging-foods
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3561737/

If you or an aging loved one is considering companion care at home in Clermont, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.

Handmade Christmas Gifts Seniors Can Make For Their Families

Posted on November 26, 2021August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

Home Care in Ferndale FL

Making Christmas gifts is a fantastic way to keep your senior loved one working on something that will be treasured within the family. Whether you have a home care provider help your senior one loved one make these gifts or you help you senior parent make them they are sure to become family heirlooms:

Afghans

If your senior parent can knit or crochet they can work on making some warm winter afghans to gift to family members. Knitting and crocheting are fantastic activities for helping seniors keep the dexterity in their hands. And counting stitches and following a pattern is great for helping seniors retain their cognitive skills.

Christmas Ornaments

Did you ever make Christmas ornaments with your parent when you were young? Now you can make them again with your senior parent. You can buy clear Christmas ornaments and either fill them with miniatures or candy or toys or you can paint the outside. You can also make salt dough ornament with handprints in them the way that you did when you were small. Someday when your senior loved one is gone having those handprint ornaments will make you remember special times like holidays with your loved one.

Picture Frames

Your senior loved one can get really creative customizing picture frames for the family. With paper, glue, ribbon, sequins, shells, stones, glitter, and other craft materials they can transform inexpensive photo frames into works of art. Pop in a photo of your senior loved one and then send them out as gifts to the rest of the family members as keepsakes or use them as place card holders at your holiday parties.

Quilts

Quilts are a wonderful gift, and quilting is a fantastic activity for seniors who like to sew. Planning and sewing a quilt will help seniors work their brains and their cognitive skills while sewing will help their flexibility and dexterity in their hands and fingers. And a beautiful quilt that is handmade by a senior loved one is a keepsake that you can pass down to your children.

Scarves, Hats, And Mittens

If your loved one likes to knit or crochet but they can only manage one or two stitches or they don’t have the patience to make an entire afghan small items like scarves, hats, and mittens are also great gifts. These types of handmade items are easy and fun to make so your senior loved one may really enjoy gifting everyone in the family a handmade scarf this year.

Photo Albums

This is a very special gift project that you will probably need to help your senior parent do. Get prints made of the best family photos that encompass the entire history of the family. With your senior loved one go over each photo and write the names and dates on each photo. Then arrange them in decorated photo albums so that everyone in the family will have a copy of the family history in photos.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Ferndale, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.

Nail Care Tips for Senior Citizens

Posted on November 9, 2021August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

Personal Care at Home in Minneola FL

Is your elderly loved one having trouble taking care of their nails? Maybe, they aren’t able to bend down and cut their own toenails? They may have shaky hands and aren’t able to properly or safely cut their fingernails either. It is important that your elderly loved one is taking care of their nails. However, they may need help from you or personal care at home providers. Learning more about nail care for senior citizens can help you to know what to do to help.

Not Cutting Their Own Nails

As just noted, some elderly people have shaky hands. If this is the case, they are more likely to cut themselves with fingernail or toenail clippers. If you are worried that this may happen to your elderly loved one, it may be best for you or an elderly care provider to cut their nails for them. By doing that, your elderly loved one also will not need to bend over to cut their own toenails. This can save them from a lot of back and neck issues.

In-Home Nail Care Services

Did you know that many nail care companies do offer in-home nail care services? Does your elderly loved one not like to leave their home unless they have to? Do they have a health condition that prevents them from going out of their home? If either of these is the case for your elderly loved one, it may be a good idea to check into those at-home nail care services. Someone could come to your loved one’s house and give them a manicure or a pedicure. If your elderly loved one doesn’t feel comfortable having someone over while they are alone, you or a senior care provider could be there during the appointments.

Taking Precautions

Sometimes, precautions must be taken when caring for your elderly loved one’s nails. For example, if your elderly loved one tried cutting their own nails and it caused excessive bleeding, they could have a bleeding disorder. You should have them see their doctor for this. In addition, if you or a personal care at home provider notice your elderly loved one has fungus on their toes, make sure they get treatment for this, as well.

Conclusion

Now that you have more details and tips for nail care in the elderly, you can start helping your elderly loved one to take better care of their nails. Don’t forget that if you or a personal care at home provider notice health issues with your elderly loved one’s fingernails or toenails, you should have them get it checked out by their doctor.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6339366/

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Minneola, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.

Can Being Read Out Loud to Help My Senior Parent?

Posted on October 27, 2021August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

In-Home Care in Mascotte FL

Seniors may not be able to read books like they once used to. It can be for many reasons. They may have lost the joy of reading, the text may be too small, or maybe they are having a hard time remembering what they have read. The good news is in-home care can still help them enjoy books by reading out loud to them. Reading allows anyone of any age to use their imagination while being entertained for a short period of time.

Many people overlook reading out loud to seniors because they think it is something just for kids. However, that is not true. Reading aloud to a loved one allows both of you to relax, enjoy something new, and spend quality time together. There are thousands of books that both in-home care and seniors can choose to read together.

During times when a senior is alone, they can utilize audiobooks that can be played aloud on a tablet or computer. This allows the seniors to enjoy a book while still having someone else read to them. It can be beneficial for those who cannot see text, remember the words even after reading them, or connect sentences inside their head. In-home care should promote some form of reading because it can help entertain a senior and promote healthy brain functions.

Advantages of Reading Out Loud

So many people can benefit from someone else reading aloud to them. It is one of the best ways to connect on a deeper level and provides ways to relax and de-stress after a long day. Reading is typically a pastime that many people enjoy, but some seniors may not be able to do it because of various health conditions. It is perfectly okay for a caregiver to start a reading routine with their client. Here are some benefits to reading out loud.

Helps Seniors Focus

When a caregiver reads out loud, the senior has to focus on the words and the content. This allows them to use multiple parts of their brain while focusing on what is being read. It’s a huge advantage when trying to keep the mind sharp.

Boosts Comprehension

When words are spoken out loud, your brain takes them in and has to work to comprehend them. Reading out loud does the same thing. This may help seniors understand more of what is being said out loud.

Improves Listening Skills

No matter what age someone is, listening is an important skill. Listening and understanding someone or something is a very important thing for seniors to focus on.

Understanding Ideas

This allows seniors to think about things differently without focusing on the text. It allows them to understand hard-to-grasp ideas and mull things over. It can be a huge advantage when trying to maintain critical thinking.

Sources:
https://www.seniorhelpers.com/tn/chattanooga/resources/blogs/the-benefits-of-reading-aloud-and-in-home-help/

If you or an aging loved one is considering in-homecare in Mascotte, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.

What to Do When Your Senior Needs More Help At Home

Posted on October 8, 2021August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

Home Care in Leesburg FL

With good preparation and planning, aging at home can be a success for your senior. You do not have to do it alone.

There are care strategies to aid you on your quest to help your senior age at home, so you can rest easy knowing that they are safe, well-cared-for, and comfortable.

Help Them Regain and Maintain Their Confidence

As a senior grows older and more fragile, they are more likely to experience despair, discomfort, boredom, disease, and loneliness. This could be due to the fact that they now have to listen to you and follow your directions-even if it does not feel right to them. The inability to cook meals, bathe themselves, and perform simple chores can hurt their feelings and sense of independence.

But by simply showing respect and taking adequate care of your senior, you can help them restore their confidence. You can assist your senior in completing certain tasks on their own while caring for them at home, or you can sit down with them for a few minutes and talk about whatever they want.

Be Kind and Understand Them

While it may appear that seniors sometimes don’t act their age, this may just be a symptom of a loss in cognitive abilities. They may say things you do not agree with or that offend you, but you should control your temper and be civil with your senior.

Be On Alert for Emergencies

Emergencies can take many forms, and if you live far away from your senior, you should evaluate the location in which they live as well as their proximity to essential requirements in the event of an emergency. Personal protective equipment such as a mask and gloves, clean drinking water, a first aid kit, extra prescriptions, three days’ worth of non-perishable food, and a flashlight with batteries are all recommended items to have in an emergency kit box.

Fulfill the Need for Companionship

Seniors typically experience loneliness and isolation, which can lead to chronic diseases and decreased cognitive function. If you do not live with your senior, make sure to see them on a regular basis, hire an in-home caregiver to help them set up a regular phone line, and use technology to keep connected through Skype interactions.

Motivate Them to Stay Physically Active

Regular exercise can help a senior maintain bone, joint, and muscle strength, reduce the chance of falling, and speed up recovery time if they become unwell or injured. You can recommend at-home activities like online exercise sessions, YouTube dance videos, and video chats with grandchildren.

Seek Caregivers

Catering to the specialized requirements of seniors can be tough for those providing personal care, especially if you already have a lot on your plate. You should not let your overwhelming to-do list push you to the point of neglecting your senior. You can employ the services of a trained in-home care provider.

Conclusion

Caring for a senior at home can be difficult for you and even for a caregiver. However, you will discover that caring for seniors can be straightforward and simple if you take the time to listen to their needs and communicate with them while remaining reliable and dependable.

If your senior needs more help at home, consider home care. Home care will help your senior with everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. Call us today and see your home care options!

Sources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/caregiving/caregiver-guides

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Leesburg, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.

What to Look For in a New Home for Your Senior

Posted on September 24, 2021August 10, 2023 by Craig Bass

Elder Care in Clermont FL

If a senior you love lives in a big house with many levels, it may be time to downsize their home. This can be a hard step for many seniors, especially if they have lived in a home for a very long time. The truth is big houses are great for families but can be dangerous for seniors. Even with an elder care assistant, it may be easier to ensure a senior’s safety in a smaller environment.

Looking for houses can be a big deal, and you want to make sure your parents or grandparents feel comfortable in a new space. If you are unsure what to look for in a new home, this short guide might be able to give you a few ideas.

As some age and start developing more problems, it can be essential to downgrade a home. It will also be crucial to have a good elder care provider help the senior during the transition. Take a look at these features that may help improve a seniors living situation.

What to Look for in a Home for Seniors

The senior you love may have outgrown their large home meant for five kids, which is okay. It is a normal part of life to downgrade homes, especially when they become too much work. The senior may not know what to look for, and the elder care provider may not help purchase a house, but you can. Take a look at these tips to consider when looking for new homes for your seniors.

Single Level

If you can find a home that has one level and no stairs, this may help limit unwanted incidents from occurring. Stairs can be a massive reason why seniors fall or can’t live on their own. Finding a home that is one level will significantly help reduce this problem. It will also make it easier for the elder care provider to find the senior when around the house.

Remote Controls

There are so many houses that have tech installed in the houses it can make it really convenient for the seniors. Some remotes control lights, fans, blinds, shades, and even opening windows. Not all houses have these accessories, but you may get lucky and find something similar.

Twist-Free Faucets

Having push faucets may be more beneficial for a senior with arthritis. Sometimes the twist knobs can be harder and painful to work for a senior. A good home for a senior should not include twist knobs on a faucet or other devices. This may seem like a small detail, but it can make a huge impact on the level of comfortability.

Bright Lighting

Dim lights can be tough for seniors to see in, and it can be difficult for them to find things. Ensuring a home comes with bright lighting can be essential for a senior home. Elder care providers may help them change light bulbs to brighter options. However, having nice windows that bring in natural light can be a massive help in the everyday lives of seniors.

If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Clermont, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.