Take My Hand At Home

At Home Care

Give dad what he really needs this Father’s Day

By

Father's day visit with grandson

Ties are great. Wallets are swell. But your dad probably doesn’t need or want those things anymore. If you want to show your love for dad this Father’s Day with something he truly needs, try these three great options:

Time. The circumstances of life can make time a rare luxury as your father ages. Older dads typically have children who are in their busiest years — kids in the home, tons of responsibilities at work, etc. People in this situation are referred to as belonging to the “sandwich generation” of people, typically in their 30s or 40s, who are caring for their own children while also ensuring that their aging parents have the care they need.

While you might have little time on your hands, it remains nonetheless important to spend some with your dad. This Father’s Day, your dad would probably love nothing more than time with his children and grandchildren.

Father's day visit with granddaughter

Attention. If you’re going to spend time with dad, you might as well make the most of it. Ideally, time spent with dad would be quality time, and that means giving him your full attention. Put down the phone (and have the kids do the same) and engage in quality conversation. Perhaps you could play a fun guessing game together, like “my father works in a grocery store,” or listen to an informative senior-focused podcast. Maybe it’s a good time to talk about important documents, such as advance directives and wills.

Giving dad your attention not only will help ensure that you have a great time hanging out with your father, but it also can help you determine whether your dad might need a little extra help. When you get together, pay attention to his wants and needs — and how they’ve changed over time.

Help. The odds are high that your dad doesn’t get by quite as well as he used to. This father’s day (or any time of year), at-home care assistance is an out-of-the-box (literally) gift idea that can improve your dad’s quality of life. If he needs help shopping for groceries, remembering to take medicines or any of a million other activities of daily living, at-home care could be a real blessing. Contact Take My Hand At-Home Care for a complimentary in-home assessment of your dad’s needs.

Help for dad can be a gift for children, too, because it can help lessen the stress of worrying whether he gets all the care he needs to remain safe and happy. If you have any questions or need help, please reach out to Take My Hand At-Home Care.

5 podcasts for senior wellness 

By

The vast array of podcasts – i.e. internet radio shows – in today’s world is enough to make anyone’s head spin. From true crime storytelling to politics and health, there’s a podcast out there for practically any topic, taste or age range. If you’re of a certain adult age – or have a senior family member – it might interest you to know there’s plenty of podcasts that promote senior wellness.

Aging not just gracefully, but safely and healthily, is part of Take My Hand At-Home Care’s mission. With that in mind, here’s a sampling of some terrific podcasts with the senior set in mind:

“Aging in Full Bloom” – Hosted by Lisa Stockdale, this senior-focused podcast features a wide range of topics and guests, including an episode featuring Alzheimer’s caregiving advice from Patti Davis, daughter of President Ronald Reagan.

With engaging 15- to 30-minute episodes about everything from elder law to retirement advice and heart health, “Aging in Full Bloom” is a friendly, engaging choice for listeners.

“Better Health While Aging” – Another podcast with practical advice health advice both for seniors and those who care for them, this show is hosted by Dr. Leslie Kernisan, a board-certified geriatrician. On the show, Dr. Kernisan discusses such topics as when to know if your aging parent needs help and how to discuss it with them.

More than 100 episodes of “Better Health While Aging” are available, so there’s no shortage of knowledge to consider here, whether the topic is bladder health or how to survive the holidays with several generations of family.

AARP’s “The Perfect Scam” – Hosted by Bob Sullivan, the podcast shares stories of people duped by scammers, including a woman who donated land to a disabled veteran’s charity only to learn it wasn’t real.

Part of the AARP Fraud Watch Network, “The Perfect Scam” includes interviews with fraud experts, scam victims and even some of the professional con artists who perpetrate them, providing insight into how these grifters operate.

“Stay Wealthy” – A Forbes Top 10 retirement podcast hosted by Taylor Schulte, a certified financial planner, “Stay Wealthy” provides a variety of episodes focused on what seniors need to financially live their best retirement.

Topics in each 15- to 30-minute episode include how to reduce tax liabilities, make smarter investments and conduct other retirement income strategies. All information is delivered in a relatively easy to understand way.

“New Tricks for Old Dogs” – A podcast aimed at engaging the fun part of the baby boomer brain, this show co-hosted by veteran comedian Paul Menzel and voice actor Jim Conlan is a celebration of senior living. Each episode is chock full of fun conversation about aging challenges, not only, but also features such elements as offbeat news items, adventuring tips, and interviews with seniors staying engaged in life.

And of course, there’s no shortage of shameless humor. The “New Tricks for Old Dogs” podcast website also features a ton of great website links for seniors, including everything from daily laughs to travel savings to healthcare.

With the plethora of great podcasts aimed at seniors, the medium offers an excellent way for older adults to stay up to date on health, wellness and lifestyle trends. We hope you find something on this list you enjoy. And if you want to recommend a wonderful senior-focused podcast that’s not on this list, please let us know!

How to reduce stress, avoid chronic disease

By

Isn’t it ironic that stress has such a strong relationship with disease? The more stressed we are, the more chronic diseases can attack our bodies — which, naturally, tends to stress us out even more.

“Your body is hard-wired to react to stress in ways meant to protect you against threats from predators and other aggressors,” writes the Mayo Clinic in an article about stress management. “Such threats are rare today, but that doesn’t mean that life is free of stress. On the contrary, you likely face many demands each day, such as taking on a huge workload, paying the bills and taking care of your family. Your body treats these so-called minor hassles as threats. As a result, you may feel as if you’re constantly under attack.”

That feeling, in turn, can lead to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, digestive problems, depression, memory impairment and more.

That’s enough to stress anyone out, right?

There is good news, however. You can fight back.

Here are four things you can start doing today to reduce your stress:

Take care of yourself physically. Engaging in regular exercise, getting plenty of sleep and eating a healthy diet will set your body up for success. Are you or an older loved one having trouble sleeping? Here are some tips to improve your sleep.

Take care of yourself mentally. Practicing mindfulness techniques can help break the “cycle of worry,” says one expert, which in turn can put you back in control over your life. What’s more, mindfulness can lead to cognitive improvements and other benefits, especially in older adults.

Pursue your passions. When you take time for hobbies and other things you enjoy, you are lowering your stress level. The Annals of Behavioral Medicine found during one study that when pursuing hobbies, participants’ moods were more positive, and they had lower stress and heart rates. What’s more, stimulating social and mental activities are known to keep our brains sharp as we age.

Learn more: Activities to support brain health and memory in seniors

Get the help you need at home. Among the people we talk with regularly here at Take My Hand At-Home Care, a major stress point is the care of older loved ones. Family caregivers bear an enormous amount of stress in ensuring that their mom or dad are getting the support they need as they age. Contracting with a company like Take My Hand can help reduce the burden of stress through trustworthy, reliable care at home. We work in Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale and throughout Whatcom County to help families lower their stress and ensure their loved ones are well cared for.

Call us today to get the at-home help you need.

Learn more: Is now the right time to choose at-home care?

How to help older loved ones sleep better

By

Good sleep is critical for people of all ages, given its importance to weight loss, concentration, heart health, healthy metabolism, mental health and more. 

As we age and our health needs change, a good night’s sleep remains a critical need, as proper sleep has significant positive impact on concentration, memory and immune health among the elderly. In addition, a poor night’s sleep can lead to debilitating fatigue throughout the day, making it difficult to perform regular activities of daily living. 

What’s more, when our elderly loved ones sleep poorly, they aren’t the only ones affected. Poor sleep can not only negatively impact their health, but also the health of the family caregivers who perhaps lose their own sleep because of it. 

What can be done to improve sleep among the elderly? 

While many elderly with nightly sleep issues end up with a prescription drug aid, doctors say drugs usually are not the best solution. Instead, doctors recommend making simple lifestyle changes — improving “sleep hygiene” — to boost sleep. 

Sleep hygiene improvements can help ensure that time in bed is more fruitful; among them are sticking to a regular bedtime, avoiding screens before bed, bathing before bedtime, getting plenty of exercise throughout the day (but not within four hours of bedtime), and avoiding afternoon caffeine and spicy foods. 

Hiring an at-home caregiver can help an elderly loved one manage many of these important tasks. A caregiver can assist with walks and other activities and can help with bathing and timekeeping tasks to ensure that bedtime can be consistent. A caregiver also can help manage food and drink in the afternoon to ensure that loved ones can keep consistent. 

If nighttime pain is preventing sleep, a caregiver also can help with medication management, ensuring proper and timely dosage. 

Caregivers also can monitor other potential causes for sleep interruptions and work with the family to find solutions to specific issues, such as sleep apnea, a sleep disorder marked by repeated interruptions to breathing. Caregivers also can help family members in determining, with guidance from the family doctor, what changes to sleep patterns are a part of normal aging. 

Take My Hand At-Home Care works with families throughout Whatcom County to care for their elderly loved ones. Whether you need four hours in the afternoon to help prepare for bed or a 12-hour shift to assist with bedtime activities and monitor sleep, Take My Hand can help. Just give us a call to discuss your needs. 

Caregivers: nursing home vs. at-home care

By

Of the 1,000 adults polled in a recent survey, 75% said they would prefer recovering at home instead of in an institutional setting after a serious health event. 

According to the report, the COVID-19 pandemic has only solidified this opinion: “As consumers live through the ongoing public health emergency and read about the dangers of facility-based care, many are hoping all health care shifts into the home.” 

This is great news for the at-home care industry, not only, but also for the many caregivers facing a decision between finding a job in a medical facility or in an at-home care setting. As more and more seniors choose to enjoy care in the familiar comforts of home — whether help recovering after surgery or ongoing assistance with activities of daily living — opportunities for caregivers will continue to grow. 

But the growth of at-home care and its advantages for long-term job security isn’t the only benefit for caregivers. Here are a few more reasons to choose to work in at-home care: 

  • The at-home setting can be calmer and more relaxed. In at-home care, workers can generally choose more flexible hours and work at a slower pace. In each home, there typically is just one person needing care. Instead of rushing from bed to bed, caregivers can focus their time and attention on one person — getting better acquainted with the person’s needs, not only, but also with the actual person, building lasting relationships that are so important for well-being. 
  • The flexibility of the at-home care setting also means that services can be better customized to the needs of each individual. Some people might simply need a companion to help with cooking and groceries, while others might need help remembering to take medications, getting dressed and attending doctors’ appointments. 
  • The home setting is more comfortable and familiar for those receiving care. Many long-term care facilities attempt to replicate for residents the feeling of living at home, but there is nothing like the real thing. At-home living is much more comfortable for residents — which can make at-home caregiving a more pleasant experience, too. 
  • Restrictions due to COVID-19 aren’t as broad. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many restrictions have been placed at the county and state levels on long-term care facilities, restricting such things as who can visit and when. In at-home care, caregivers have more flexibility to care for clients according to the clients’ wishes. 

Further reading: Why work in at-home care? 

If you are a nursing assistant or caregiver looking for fulfilling employment in Whatcom County, please consider Take My Hand At-Home Care. 

Don’t miss your yearly checkup

By

Don’t overlook the value of a yearly health screening.

There’s a reason we’re told so see the doc at least once a year as we age: the older our bodies get, the more they can start to break down. A regular checkup can help identify unknown issues before they become serious.

Even if you feel healthy, you still should visit your health care provider at least once a year. During a regular checkup, your doctor likely will take care of such important issues as screening for medical issues, assessing potential future health care needs, updating vaccinations and encouraging any health-focused changes that might be necessary.

If your health is great, you’ll feel relieved. And if there’s something you need to take care of, you’ll be thankful you caught it early.

For example, did you know that other than getting it checked, there’s no reliable way to tell whether you have high blood pressure? That’s one reason high blood pressure is known as the “silent killer,” causing damage to your circulatory system and leading to potential heart attacks and strokes without you even knowing it. At a checkup, your doctor will identify whether you have high blood pressure — and, if so, what to do about it.

Plus, regular checkups can help you get to know your doctor better, which can be comforting if you ever have an illness or emergency.

In addition to a regular health checkup, older men also should consider regular screenings for cholesterol, colorectal cancer and diabetes, among others. Women also should consider regular breast cancer screenings. Your health provider will let you know what screenings are important for you specifically, based on your health and history.

Related: Five simple ways seniors can lower cholesterol

With Father’s Day coming up, how about a checkup as an outside-of-the-box gift idea?

The joke about belts, ties and wallets is that dads often need them but would rarely buy them for themselves. Setting your dad up with a health checkup could be something like that, too. If your dad has been dragging his feet about seeing his doc for a look-over, helping him set that up could be a needed gift.

Another good idea could be signing up for long-term care help at home. At-home care visits from a certified nursing assistant can give you piece of mind that medication is being monitored, groceries are stocked, and daily needs are being met.

You both will be thankful for that.

How to identify strokes — and help prevent them — in an elderly loved one

By

As we age, our risk of stroke increases. According to the Mayo Clinic, those older than 55 have a greater likelihood of stroke than do younger people.

Are you concerned about the risk of stroke in a loved one? Here’s how to spot them:

An older man in a hat looks off into the distance outdoors.

You’ve probably heard the acronym FAST, from the American Stroke Association. The acronym is a great way to help identify the symptoms of a stroke in a loved one.

F: Face drooping. If you spot face drooping and suspect a stroke is occurring, ask your loved one to smile. If the person is having a stroke, his or her smile might be uneven or lopsided.

A: Arm weakness. Ask your loved one to raise both arms and check whether one arm drifts downward.

S: Speech difficulty. Ask your loved one to repeat a simple sentence. Stroke victims often will have slurred speech that is difficult to understand.

T: Time to call 911. If you see any of these symptoms — even if they go away — call 911 and take your loved one to a hospital immediately.

To help prevent strokes, there are a few things you can encourage your loved one to do:

An older woman in a hat looks off into the distance in a diner.

Get good sleep. According to Senior Living, elderly people who sleep poorly — those who wake often and have erratic sleep patterns — are more susceptible to developing hardened blood vessels, which can restrict blood flow to the brain and lead to strokes. The avoidance of strokes is one way in which good sleep can promote good health. If an elderly loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, working to manage sundown syndrome also can help promote better sleep.

Pay attention food and drink. Cholesterol, which sticks to the insides of our blood vessels and restricts blood flow, can increase stroke risk. Sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is a major stroke risk. Diet soda, too, can be harmful. And then there’s fatty food. Trans fat, in particular, can contribute to strokes (not to mention obesity, cancer and heart disease). Spend some time researching the value of good nutrition and make changes in your loved one’s diet to maximize the benefits of great food.

Exercise. Research published in the journal Neurology found that higher levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of silent stroke.

If you’re concerned that a loved one might experience a stroke or other medical issue with nobody around to help, consider setting up a schedule with family members or seeking a nurse for hire to be with your loved one when you are unable. A home attendant caregiver can help offer peace of mind that someone will be there for your loved one — while also helping out with many other personal care tasks, including shopping for healthy foods. Take My Hand At-Home Care provides licensed caregivers throughout Whatcom County to help the elderly live safely at home.

How technology can help loved ones with dementia

By

As an aid for older people with dementia or cognitive decline, technology has been in use for decades. In fact, the first medical alert device — a pendant that could dial preprogrammed phone numbers when pressed — dates to the 1970s.

As technology has grown and expanded in the past half-century, its usefulness in helping people with dementia and their loved ones has grown as well.

Here are five ways modern technology can be used to help those with cognitive decline:

  • Because those with cognitive decline can be prone to wander and get lost, location trackers can be lifesavers. The Alzheimer’s Society website contains a wonderful resource for those looking for technology to keep tabs on the location of a loved one.
  • Video monitors can be placed strategically to let family members and caregivers know that people with dementia are able to take charge of important activities. A camera trained on the medication cabinet, for example, can send alerts when movement is detected, providing assurance that important medications are being taken. Similarly, a kitchen camera can provide evidence that loved ones are eating, and a door camera can send notices when someone enters or leaves the house.
  • It can be common among the elderly, and especially those with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, to need regular reminders of the time, day and their schedule. Talking clocks can provide aural and visual reminders of the time and can be programmed to remind the elderly when to take medications.
  • Digital games can help the elderly meet needs for socialization, communication and brain stimulation. ActTo Dementia, an international dementia research project, provides app recommendations on its website.
  • Picture frames that show slideshows of digital photos can be used to show friendly and familiar faces to the elderly, helping stave off loneliness and to keep the faces of loved ones at the fronts of their minds. Some of these frames also can be set to play familiar and meaningful music.

Of course, technology should be used as an aid, not as a replacement for a caregiver or another form of memory care. For their emotional and physical wellbeing, it’s important that elderly loved ones continue to receive personal care and attention. For assistance with at-home care in Whatcom County, from Bellingham to Blaine, please consider giving Take My Hand At-Home Care a call.

How to spot cognitive decline in a loved one

By

Cognitive lapses are fairly common among older adults, with subjective cognitive decline affecting roughly one in nine people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s natural to be concerned that a loved one might experience dementia, Alzheimer’s or a similar brain decline in older age.

How can you tell whether cognitive decline might be happening to someone you know and love? Here are four things to look for:

Increasing forgetfulness. If you’ve noticed that your mom or dad tends to have increasing trouble remembering routine tasks, or if you’ve seen that more and more appointments are being missed, advancing cognitive decline may be a factor. You also might notice that your loved one is forgetting recent conversations or events. “Some cognitive decline can occur as adults age,” according to the CDC, “but frequently forgetting how to perform routine tasks, for example, is not a normal part of aging and can affect a person’s ability to live and function independently.”

Difficulty understanding directions. After a visit to the doctor, for example, your loved one might struggle to follow instructions about taking pills. Getting lost more easily can be a sign, too — like getting “turned around” more often in the grocery store.

Increases in impulsivity. Perhaps your loved one has been buying things online that he wouldn’t have in the past or is showing other signs of acting without thinking.

Changes in hygiene, appetite or organization. Becoming increasingly messy at home or disorganized in how tasks are conducted can be another symptom. Decreased hygiene and reduced appetite also can be warning signs.

It’s important to remember that signs of cognitive impairment may be mistaken for other issues, as experts at Emory University have detailed. Some medications, for example, may cause side effects like drowsiness or mental slowness. Hearing issues can make it harder for people to follow along in a conversation, and arthritis or other pains can cause problems with concentration.

If you see any of these signs in an elderly loved one, reach out to Dementia Support Northwest here in Whatcom County for a memory screening to get a better handle on what might be the issue.

And if you do find that a loved one needs ongoing assistance, hiring an at-home caregiver can be one way to assist loved ones who might need increasing levels of support. Caregivers can devote as little or as much time as is needed to ensure the proper amount of attention and support for loved ones in Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale and the rest of Whatcom County.

Does your elderly loved one need a healthcare advocate?

By

As COVID-19 lockdowns and mask-wearing requirements continue here in Whatcom County, an increasing trend we are seeing is that the elderly are having difficulty at medical appointments.

With masks being a requirement, it is difficult for many people to correctly understand what doctors and nurses are telling them. Many elderly people do not hear well and are unable to read their providers’ facial expressions or lips from behind their masks. For many older adults, this is extremely isolating — and even scary. Not only do they feel unable to communicate about important life-related needs, but they often can’t even acquire a good understanding of what they are supposed to do (how to take medications, when to return for a follow-up appointment, how to process potentially life-changing health information, etc.).

For those reasons, it is prudent to ask whether older loved ones need a healthcare advocate to accompany them to medical appointments in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and throughout Whatcom County.

Not only can assistants help with basic tasks like setting appointments, driving and picking up prescriptions, but they also can help digest important information from healthcare providers at appointments and can help explain how and when to take medications.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when so much is confusing and far beyond ordinary, having a kind, calming person to assist with tasks related to healthcare can be an enormous relief.

Some seniors avoid going to the doctor because they feel like they don’t understand what they are being told or they are scared of the outcome, even though not every visit leads to bad news. There may be important prevention information to learn or wellness tweaks to make that can help extend their lives. Having a healthcare advocate at their side can make all the difference.

Related: How to visit loved ones
during the COVID-19 pandemic

Plus, in addition to health-related support, an advocate also can help with such responsibilities as ensuring that bills are paid, transporting people to and from appointments, shopping for groceries in Bellingham, cooking meals and liaising with important Whatcom County community services.

If you think your mom, dad or other loved one could benefit from having a healthcare advocate at an upcoming medical appointment, please give Take My Hand At-Home Care a call. We would be happy to discuss your needs and opportunities.

Give dad what he really needs this Father’s Day

Ties are great. Wallets are swell. But your dad probably doesn’t need or want those things anymore. If you want to show your love for dad this Father’s Day with something he truly needs, try these three great options: Time. The circumstances of life can make time a rare luxury as your father ages. Older dads typically have children who are in their busiest years — kids in the home, tons of … [Read More...]

ABOUT US

Take My Hand At-Home Care is fully licensed, bonded and insured and has been locally owned and operated since 2012. It is currently owned by Matt … Read More...

Recent Posts

Contact US

Phone: 360-543-5777
Fax: 360-255-7564
*If you need immediate assistance for a loved one please contact us by phone.