Take My Hand At Home

At Home Care

Technology can aid in helping loved ones stay home

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“Ah, there is nothing like staying at home,” wrote Jane Austen in her novel Emma, “for real comfort.”

That’s a principle taken to heart by the staff here at Take My Hand At-Home Care.

When parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors need long- or short-term help with daily living needs, the most comfortable and convenient place for them to receive care is at the place with which they’re most familiar: home.

For those who live far away from their loved ones, however, ensuring that they get the help they need can be difficult.

Thankfully, today’s technological age offers several good solutions. From the other side of the city, the state or the world, these three tech tricks can prove invaluable in staying in touch with loved ones and their care providers.

Keep in mind that no gadget can replace the safety, security and personal touch offered by a licensed caregiver, so all of these technologies will work best when paired with an at-home attendant such as those provided by Take My Hand’s 12-hour overnight shifts.

Video chat: Technologies such as Skype, Google Hangouts, Facetime and others can help prevent isolation while allowing you to chat with your loved one. Regular chats provide something for everyone to look forward to while also giving defined intervals for updates and progress checks.

Online monitoring: At Take My Hand At-Home Care, loved ones can log in to the website to see which caregiver is scheduled to be in the home providing care at any given time. Through this safe and secure system, loved ones near or far can monitor caregiver schedules for parents, grandparents, friends or neighbors, allowing them to put a name to the caregiver and a person to contact should questions arise.

GPS tracking: This can be particularly helpful for senior citizens who are especially mobile. When an individual misses a doctor’s appointment, for example, loved ones can track their location via their cell phone or other device to get insight into what might be happening.

Telephone calls: Often overlooked in today’s over-the-top tech world, mobile phones are a revolution in providing an ability for loved ones to stay in touch. Because they’re so mobile, elderly loved ones can keep them nearby at all times, meaning that they (and you) are always just a phone call away.

As mentioned above, no gadget is foolproof; another solid way to ensure the wellbeing of a loved one is via the personal touch of a caregiver.

ake My Hand At-Home Care, Whatcom County Elder Care Provider logo

Take My Hand At-Home Care offers various shifts, from 12-hour overnight care up to 24-hour, round-the-clock assistance, that provide invaluable assistance for individuals during the aging process and peace of mind for their loved ones.

Rest up with overnight care!

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How much sleep do you need?

Odds are, it’s a little more than you think you need.

And it’s a lot more than you’re getting.

Recent research states that getting just six hours of sleep per night can, over time, be as bad as not getting any sleep at all.

So what’s a caregiver to do? When you’re responsible for another human life overnight, you can’t just decide to get more sleep. You’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, getting more desperate with every busy, sleepless night.

But there are solutions. If you’re struggling to get enough sleep every night, it’s time to re-evaluate your daily routines. Sleep is incredibly important for the human body. Here are a few things to try:

Daily exercise can help increase your ability to sleep. In addition, it’s great at reducing depression, which can sneak up on unsuspecting caregivers who are deprived of sleep and overburdened with work. Try not to work out too close to bedtime, as that can get your body too amped to sleep.

A regular bedtime routine can remind your body that it’s time to settle down for the night. Consistent, calming activities such as knitting, reading a book or taking a bath can — especially when done at the same time every night — be a massive help in preparing your body for downtime. Equally as important is getting up at a consistent time, too.

As much as possible, your room should be cool, dark and quiet. Not only will that help your body settle down for sleep, but it’ll prevent unnecessary waking during the night.

Cutting down on late-day meals or drinks laden with sugar or caffeine also can help. Ideally, you should be neither full nor hungry when you go to bed. And the less you drink right before bed, the less likely you’ll need to get up at night.

But sometimes there just isn’t time in the day to find exercise or consistent, quality downtime for your body. In situations like this, you have to be proactive and make time. This is where Take My Hand At Home Care can be a huge help. We offer eight-hour, overnight respite shifts so that you can sleep while we care for your loved one.

Does your mom wander at night? No problem, we can handle it. Does your spouse need frequent help at night going to the bathroom or taking medication? Don’t worry, we can take care of it.

Just give us a call, and we’ll chat about what you need and what Take My Hand can do to help you out. Hiring an overnight caregiver, even two or three times per week, can help you catch up on sleep so you’re rested and recharged for the day’s activities.

Prevent social isolation with these three tips

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Feelings of social isolation and loneliness can be a problem at any age, but those feelings can occur more often as people grow older.

The National Council on Aging estimates that one in six seniors face the risks of
feeling isolation and its repercussions, and that older woman
are at higher risk, representing over 60 percent of isolated older adults.

Jodi and Agnes August 2015For older adults the onset of loneliness can happen gradually, sometimes preceded by specific life events like retirement, the loss of a loved one, a change in driving privileges, or family members moving away. [Read more…]

How to choose an at-home caregiver

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Age-in-Place: How to choose a caregiver

Take My Hand At-Home Care, Whatcom County Senior Care ProviderIt’s a fact that caring for an aging or disabled loved one can be rewarding and overwhelming at the same time. If left unchecked, the stress of caregiving can take a toll on a person’s health, relationships, and state of mind—something healthcare professionals refer to as “caregiver burnout.”

Hiring a caregiver for long term care or occasional respite can help prevent caregiver burnout. Partnering with a trusted care provider can be a win-win for both the person receiving care and their caregiver, especially if the role of caregiver has fallen on a spouse or other family member. [Read more…]

The value of a little help at home

At-home care can free us up to do the things we love, like browse the gorgeous flowers at the farmers' market. As we age, it can be common for us to start to scale back our activities. After all, many of the things we’re used to doing — whether the activities we do for fun or the stuff of daily life — can become more difficult as our bodies and minds start to slow down. Driving is harder, … [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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Phone: 360-543-5777
Fax: 360-255-7564
*If you need immediate assistance for a loved one please contact us by phone.