Take My Hand At Home

At Home Care

Why work in at-home care?

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The home care industry continues to see astounding growth. In 2016, there were roughly 2 million personal care attendants in the United States, and that figure is expected to grow by 40 percent over the next decade. This projection is attributable to the fact that a record 50 million people aged 65 and older currently live in the U.S., and by 2030 this number is expected to increase by 20 million.

Simply put, at-home care is in demand.

That’s not the only reason to consider a position in at-home caregiving, however. At-home care offers a wonderful opportunity for caregivers to truly make a difference in the lives of the elderly.

Let’s look in more detail at some reasons why people would work in at-home care:

A caregiver in a red jacket pushes an older woman in a wheelchair down a concrete ramp.

Build friendships and provide comfort to those who need it. Isolation can be hazardous to seniors’ health, and as many as one in six seniors faces the repercussions of loneliness in their daily lives. At-home care offers CNAs, licensed nurses and other caregivers an opportunity to combat elder loneliness by building meaningful friendships with seniors.

Work at a slower pace and with more flexible hours. Providing care in the home can be less demanding than working in an assisted-living facility or hospital. Hours are generally more flexible, and care is slower-paced. Supporting one person is a much different experience than rushing from bed to bed serving numerous patients each day. With the slower pace, caregivers also find that they have more time to get to know their clients through the sharing of stories and experiences. Clients are often full of wonderful life advice!

Help maximize health and wellness. At-home caregivers typically are involved in helping the elderly remember medications, providing good communication with doctors and assisting in such daily tasks as bathing, walking, cooking and shopping. Thus, caregivers play critical roles in the ongoing health of their clients. Plus, at-home care affords the opportunity to see all aspects of a person, not just their medical conditions or daily needs. In the comfort of home, caregivers can get to know clients on a deeper, more personal level.

A caregiver stands in a grassy field with her elderly client as they watch the sunset together.

Make a difference in someone’s life. Take My Hand At-Home Care often is mentioned in obituaries when a person passes. Why? Because our caregivers tend to make huge impressions in seniors’ lives, whether it’s through expert assistance, kind compassion or genuine friendship. We’re proud of our reputation for kind, compassionate care that makes an impression on the elderly and their loved ones.

Take My Hand At-Home Care has been providing personal, professional support for the elderly in Whatcom County since 2012. Our eldercare options include daily shifts and even 24-hour live-in assistance, which allows seniors to age-in-place instead of moving to a long-term care facility. We are fully licensed, bonded and insured. Our professional caregivers have been trained and certified to provide compassionate care to elders in Washington state.

When you’re healthy but your spouse isn’t, here’s how to cope

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According to the Centers for Disease Control, 60 percent of Americans live with a chronic disease, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke or diabetes.

Given those percentages, there inevitably are a great many “well spouses” who are caring for a sick person daily.

When you’re the spouse who isn’t ill, how do you cope with the challenges while protecting your own health? Providing care for a spouse can be difficult, but it can be done, and done well. Here are some actions that can help:

Get educated. Caring for a sick spouse starts with making sure you know what you can about your loved one’s disease. “Well spouses cope better when they, like their partners, have accurate, firsthand information about their mate’s condition, treatment and needs,” says Johns Hopkins Medicine. A good place to start is the Northwest Regional Council, which through its Family Caregiver Support Program has many educational resources available, including a collection of loanable library resources and informational booklets on Alzheimer’s and dementia, depression and caring for the caregiver.

Get help. You don’t need to do it alone. Providing loving, compassionate care for a spouse 24/7 takes a lot out of you. Take time for yourself to do the things you enjoy: walking the dog, shopping, reading a book, relaxing. “If someone wants to be there for their loved one, it’s not selfish to ask for help,” says Lynette Whiteman, who runs a caregiver volunteer agency, in a story from A Place for Mom about caregiver health. “By getting help, they’re helping their loved one.” Options for support include reaching out to Northwest Regional Council’s Family Caregiver Support Program or hiring occasional help to care for your loved one, such as the services we provide here at Take My Hand At-Home Care. From half-day respite shifts to 24-hour care, we provide family caregivers the support they need.

Take comfort from others. Next Avenue conducted a series of interviews with adults whose spouses have a chronic illness, and the advice those people shared is tender, touching and helpful. Consider this, from a man who took care of his wife for a dozen years while she was in a wheelchair: “I am grateful for the time we had and the help I had from all of the health care professionals over those years. I learned from her and from them how very precious life is.” Next Avenue’s report, titled “When One Spouse Is Healthy and the Other Isn’t,” is worth a read. You also might check out a local support group for caregivers or an online forum (such as this one at Caregiver Action Network) where you can vent your frustrations, ask for advice and learn from the experience of others.

If you’re in Whatcom County and caring for a sick spouse or loved one and would like to learn more about the benefits of having part-time care in the home, please reach out to us at Take My Hand At-Home Care here in Lynden. We provide support all over the region, from Blaine to Bellingham, and we’d love to talk about your needs.

Is your mom or dad ready for care? A TMH client profile

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We often hear from concerned sons and daughters that their parents might be ready for some at-home assistance, but they’re not sure. Sometimes the kids are hesitant to suggest the idea to parents, and sometimes parents aren’t keen on accepting care.

It can be hard to know when is the right time to suggest care. To offer some assistance, consider this sample profile of a TMH client. Not every client will look like this, certainly, but this is one good example of the type of people who can benefit from at-home care.

Mom and dad are both in their 80s, living in a small, one-floor home in Birch Bay. They have two children, but neither lives close enough to provide regular assistance. The daughter lives in Seattle, and the son lives in Sedro-Woolley. Both of them are married with children, and their days are full and busy.

Dad still drives, which has been helpful for making the extra doctor’s appointments lately that have arisen from mom’s advancing dementia. He has gotten into a couple minor fender-benders in the last couple of months, though, and that’s beginning to be a worrisome trend. Some family members have questioned whether dad should still be driving. He already has stopped driving at night, because it can be so hard to see, and that has placed a few limitations on he and mom. For example, they don’t go out to bingo nights or dance events at the senior center any more, and those used to be beloved hobbies.

Even without going to dances, the couple is still pretty active. They try to walk every day. Dad had a fall last week, though — slipped on a stray magazine in the living room — and that left him with some painful bruises on his right hip. Nothing is broken, thankfully, but the experience reminded him that getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be.

There’s a small grocery store about four blocks from their house, but they’re not walking there as much anymore, and even less so with dad’s fall. They could probably use a few groceries to stock up the fridge and pantry.

This couple is the perfect candidate for two or three half-day shifts per week. They’re pretty active and healthy, and they’re far from needing 24-hour care. However, they would really benefit from assistance getting to the doctor’s office and help with the weekly grocery shopping. They could use someone to tidy up the house once a week and ensure that everything is in its proper place. They could also use some help communicating with doctors and ensuring that medicines are taken on time, and it would be good to have someone around to monitor mom. (Her dementia isn’t far along, but it would be good to have someone checking in on her now and again and looking at how it’s affecting dad, too.)

The 12-hour shifts would take a lot of pressure off of dad and would allow the couple to relax a bit, worrying less about the details and spending more time enjoying each other’s company.

Does any of this sound familiar? If so, perhaps your mom or dad — or someone else in your life — could benefit from having a licensed caregiver helping out on half-day shifts. Just give us a call and we can talk about your options.

The gift of appreciation

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We all love to be appreciated when we work hard.

At Take My Hand At-Home Care, we give thoughtful and attentive care to our clients, which is rewarding work in and of itself. It’s also special to receive thank you notes from families expressing what our caregiving services have meant to them. We were incredibly touched to receive this letter:

Dear Sue,

I’m writing on behalf of my mom, Patricia Brighton, and our family. We would like to express our deepest thanks for the abundant kindness, care and concern you gave each of us, especially Mom.

Each member of your team provided dependable, thoughtful and loving care. We so appreciate your devotion and attention to detail, even when expectations were more than challenging. Honestly, we never could have had her home for so long without your cheerful support.

I hold each one of you in such high regard. I hope you know your work is respected and so appreciated. I would recommend your services to anyone looking for quality caregiving. Thank you for all you do and the positive impact you have on the clients/families in your care.

Thank you, Sue, for being such a careful listener who is committed to excellence at Take My Hand At-Home Care. Your support and understanding helped us through a very dark time. You took our hands, held on tight, and helped us up again. Such a blessing when we needed it most.

Again, our deepest thanks to you, Sue, and your fabulous team of caregivers. We miss you already!

Warm regards,

Nancy Brighton & family

We are so thankful for our wonderful clients and their families. We are touched every day by their kindness and thoughtfulness as we share important moments in their lives and with their loved ones.

Providing at-home care to Lynden families like the Brightons is our pleasure. We will continue to offer caregiver services with kindness and care; we will continue to be careful listeners and aim to be a blessing to families as they are walking through difficult times.

Today, prepare for tomorrow’s healthcare decisions

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Planning ahead isn’t always an easy task. But it’s almost always an important one.

When it comes to making preparations for caring for your aging loved ones — or yourself, for that matter — the sooner you get started, the better. National Healthcare Decisions Day is coming up on April 16, so let that be a motivator for you to begin the process of planning for old age.

The first step in the preparation process is to make yourself aware of the various options available for eldercare.

At-home care: It should be no secret that we at Take My Hand At-Home Care are big fans of care that takes place in the comfort of home. Every single time our caregivers step foot in a client’s home, we see the immense value of care that takes place in a familiar environment. For starters, at-home care can be less expensive than living full-time in a long-term care or assisted-living facility. Aging in place also can allow for greater comfort and flexibility, both for the elderly and for their loved ones. The National Institutes of Health has wonderful tips for growing old at home, including tips on meals, money management and getting around.

Regular or occasional support from a licensed and insured caregiver can help the elderly stay in the comfort of home while alleviating some common worries, such as how they’ll shop for groceries, get to doctor’s appointments or even get dressed. TMH caregivers can help with all of that and more, and it’s a wonderful option for those who want long-term care at home in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

Assisted living and long-term care: When staying at home is not an option, for health or other reasons, long-term care away from the home remains a good option. One thing that Take My Hand At-Home Care always tries to do in our free, in-home consultations is offer advice for what seems like the best level of care. We do offer 24-hour care, but in situations where TMH is not able to help, we try to recommend alternative options, such as long-term care in a separate facility. If you’re curious what might be the best option for you or for an aging loved one, feel free to set up a complementary home consultation with Take My Hand.

As you’re thinking about this topic, you might want to reach out to other local services that provide assistance to the elderly. Whatcom County is home to numerous wonderful resources.

Has your loved one been socially isolated this winter? It’s time to get out.

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Spring is almost here.

Given the wet, cold winters we have in the Pacific Northwest, it’s common for the elderly — for all people, really — to hibernate through the winter, staying inside where it’s warm and dry.

For the elderly, staying at home through the colder months can mean being isolated from friends and family. Social isolation is unhealthy; in fact, it’s a risk factor for depression among older adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

To be honest, sitting at home alone for too long can lead to negative consequences for both mind and body. Maybe your loved ones are stewing over the idea that “my kids never come see me.” Perhaps they overthink about aches and pains. The New York Times even recently reported that loneliness may be a preclinical sign for Alzheimer’s disease. And not only that, isolation also may be linked to decreasing ability to care for oneself. Consider this statement:

“Among older people who reported they felt left out, isolated or lacked companionship, the ability to perform daily activities like bathing, grooming and preparing meals declined and deaths increased over a six-year study period relative to people who reported none of these feelings.”

Who needs that? Instead, let’s let the spring sun melt away your loved one’s winter doldrums. Encourage them to get up, get out and have some fun this spring.

With the warming weather, there’s never been a better time to encourage your elderly loved ones to get out of the house and out into the world. Take them for a walk through Whatcom County’s gorgeous scenery — maybe to Hovander Homestead Park or along the Bay to Baker trail into downtown Everson. Help them run errands to Haggen or Hoagland’s. Take them to see a movie at the Pickford or to reminisce about rotary telephones at SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention. Whatcom County is packed with fun things to see and do!

If you need any assistance getting your loved one out and about — or even encouraging them to leave the house — please feel free to give Take My Hand At Home Care a call. Our licensed and qualified nurses are experts in caring for the elderly throughout Whatcom County, and we’d be happy to help.

 

How to prevent those with memory loss from wandering off

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Wandering is a not-uncommon feature of memory loss and dementia. When our loved ones get confused or disoriented, when they fail to recognize where they are, or when they forget what they’re doing, they might start to wander in search of something they do recognize or remember.

Stats show that six in 10 people with dementia are prone to wandering.

The good news is that it’s a well-known phenomenon, and there are strategies that we can employ to keep our loved ones as safe as possible. Here are some ideas:

Maintain routine. An established routine of certain activities at certain times — especially during those times your loved one is most prone to wander, such as in the evenings — can go a long way toward preventing spontaneous exits.

Discourage exit. Wandering isn’t a well-planned activity, and thus placing a few cognitive barriers can reduce the likelihood of wandering. For example, locks on exterior doors should be placed out of sight. Car keys, too, should be kept somewhere safe, not on the kitchen counter where a loved one might spot them and leave during a moment of confusion. The Alzheimer’s Association maintains a helpful home-safety checklist full of great advice.

Use technology. Devices are available that can help to track your loved ones if they leave the house. The local Alzheimer Society of Washington, for example, has a program called Project Lifesaver through which it hands out free bracelets that can be worn by wanderers. The bracelets use radio frequency to keep tabs on a person’s location. The bracelets are free, but there’s a $15 monthly fee for the batteries and changing. Other tech options also are available, and some combination of various ideas might be best for you.

Rely on others. Wandering can be especially dangerous at night, when the rest of the house is asleep. That’s one reason why Take My Hand At-Home Care offers overnight and even 24-hour shifts, so loved ones can sleep while our caregiver companions watch the home and ensure everyone is kept as safe, healthy and happy as possible. We’re a locally owned and operated eldercare provider seeking to help the people of Whatcom County live their best lives.

Remember that wandering can be common among loved ones with dementia, but with planning and support from those around you, it’s manageable. For additional guidance and support, feel free to contact Take My Hand At-Home Care.

 

The benefits of choosing at-home care

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When choosing the type of care to provide for your aging loved ones, one of the biggest considerations, inevitably, is cost.

This is one of the many areas in which at-home care shines. Depending on the amount of care needed, at-home care can be a less expensive option than full-time residence in a long-term care or assisted-living facility — all while providing one-on-one, personal care and attention in the beloved environment of home.

However, cost is far from the only consideration. Your loved ones have worked hard their entire lives to support their families and provide for their future; now it’s time to focus on what’s best for them.

Whether they need just a little assistance now and again, or whether they need full-time care, life at home with a personal caregiver can provide your loved ones with the comfort, quality and ease of life they deserve.

Personal care and attention: When it comes to the retirement years, it’s hard to beat the personal care provided by a companion caregiver. Beginning with an in-home consultation and continuing through customized schedules and personalized care plans, every detail is tailored specifically for each person with whom we work.

The comfort of home: Not only do loved ones get a personal caregiver, but they get it in the familiar surroundings of home. At home, everything from the pictures on the walls to the layout of the furniture is comfortable and inviting. This can be particularly great for those seniors with dementia, but everyone can benefit from growing older in a place that’s well-known and familiar.

Less travel: Especially for those elderly who have mobility issues, in-home care can provide wonderful benefits. Caregivers can assist with medication monitoring, household errands, grocery shopping, light housekeeping and more. When doctor visits are necessary, at-home caregivers can provide accompaniment and even share necessary info with loved ones after the visit.

Family visits: At home, there are no visiting hours, quiet times or roommates to contend with. Loved ones can visit whenever is convenient. Plus, those who want to help out can do so at a time and location that’s best for everyone.

More independence: At home, comfortable surroundings can lead to a greater degree of confidence. You know where things are, how they work and how to use them. Additionally, at home, the homeowner is in charge of decision-making.

Take My Hand At-Home Care provides companion care services to senior citizens in Lynden, Bellingham, Ferndale, Blaine, Everson, Nooksack, Sumas, Birch Bay and throughout Whatcom County.

For help ensuring that your loved ones get the lives they deserve in their older years, contact Take My Hand.

The holidays are coming ―  Here’s how to include your elderly loved ones.

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The holiday season ― that wonderful time of fun, friendship and family ― is fast approaching. For the elderly loved ones in your life, the holidays can be special treats, times when they can feel particularly close to family as they reminisce about holidays gone by.

To help ensure that they ― and you ― fully enjoy the holidays, here are a few things you can do to keep your elderly loved ones involved this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Set aside tasks that they can help with. During the holidays, make a special point of creating and reserving tasks that your elderly loved ones can take part in. Baking and decorating, for example, can get them involved while helping them feel useful.

Visit them, wherever they are. The elderly who have trouble getting around or who live in nursing homes often are at the mercy of others during the holidays. Make a special point of visiting with grandpa and spending some time together. Bring some fresh-baked gingerbread cookies and a board game, or just sit and chat, bringing him up to speed on the days since you’ve last connected. More tips for combating elder loneliness during the holidays.

Help them use technology to connect.

Oftentimes there are family members who live too far away to visit in person during the holidays. Set up an elderly loved one with a simple tablet computer and access to the Internet so they can use email and interact with family via video chats. Technology can be overwhelming for the elderly, so keep it simple. Start with one app for email and one app for video messaging.

Pool resources for extra assistance. Another great help for the elderly (and for the rest of the family) during the holiday season is the extra assistance provided by part-time caregivers. If you know you’re going to be busier than usual during the holidays (and who isn’t!), consider pooling resources with siblings to provide additional caregiving for mom or dad. This can free up your time to accomplish additional tasks while ensuring that your loved ones are properly cared for. Take My Hand At-Home Care offers a wide variety of eldercare services.

Take My Hand At-Home Care has been offering top-notch care services for the elderly in Whatcom County for many years. From three-hour visits to 24-hour live-in assistance, our licensed, bonded and insured caregivers offer options to meet nearly every need. Contact us today to get started.

 

Caring for a loved one with dementia

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“Please remember the real me when I cannot remember you.”

This quote, sometimes referred to as the dementia creed, speaks to the pain experienced by those on both sides of a relationship with dementia. As memories fade from the minds of the elderly, they experience the loss of those they’ve loved. Meanwhile, their family caregivers do their best to look beyond the disease to the person they’ve known and loved for decades.

Nearly 16 million people in the United States are caring for a family member with dementia, according to figures from the Alzheimer’s Association. It often can seem like a lonely and overwhelming job, but help is always available.

Here are a few tips for coping with daily life as an adult family caregiver of an individual with Alzheimer’s or some other form of memory loss:

Start by learning as much as you can about dementia. Knowing about the details of the disease can help you make sense of the changes that are happening to your loved one. One great way to educate yourself is by attending the Alzheimer Society of Washington’s fall conference on Oct. 13, 2017. This year, the theme is “the changing brain.”

Be realistic about what you can and can’t do. If you’ve had children, try to remember what it was like for those first few years (well, all of them, really). Try as you did, you weren’t a perfect parent, and nor were your kids little angels. When dealing with dementia, know that there will be bad days and good days. Don’t beat yourself up if either of you struggles.

Communicate simply, clearly and positively. Starting with a smile and positive disposition can change the entire tenor of a conversation. Speak simply, with short sentences, and don’t ask complex or open-ended questions.

Love who your loved one is. Yearning for the return of the good old days can lead to dissatisfaction and depression. Instead of wishing that your loved one was like he or she was several decades ago, mourn the loss and meet your loved one in the present. Many caregivers avoid this step because it seems like such a loss. It’s true; it is a loss, and recognizing that can help you move on.

Use technology to your advantage. A number of recent tech innovations have made it easier to know that your loved one can be located should he or she wander off. The Alzheimer Society of Washington uses Project Lifesaver, which outfits those who are prone to wander with a bracelet that emits a special radio frequency, allowing them to be located by first responders in an emergency. The bracelets are free, but the service costs $15 per month for batteries and changing. Other options:

  • Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return, which partners with MedicAlert to provide a 24-hour, nationwide emergency response service.
  • MindMe is a GPS personal alarm that also comes with 24-hour emergency service.
  • Instead of being worn like a watch or pendant, the GPS SmartSole fits into a shoe; like other GPS devices for wanderers, it allows the wearer to be tracked from a computer or smartphone.

Seek assistance when needed. Call on family members to provide companionship and other help whenever possible. Join a caregiver support group to seek the advice and solace of others in your shoes. Hire a part-time caregiver to give you regular (even overnight) respite. Take My Hand At-Home Care is a locally owned and operated eldercare provider with years of experience caring for older adults with dementia in Whatcom County.

Why work in at-home care?

The home care industry continues to see astounding growth. In 2016, there were roughly 2 million personal care attendants in the United States, and that figure is expected to grow by 40 percent over the next decade. This projection is attributable to the fact that a record 50 million people aged 65 and older currently live in the U.S., and by 2030 this number is expected to increase by 20 … [Read More...]

ABOUT US

Sue Sorensen became involved with Whatcom County eldercare and aging-in-place services in 2009. She launched Take My Hand At-Home Care in January 2012 … Read More...

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