Live Free Home Health Care, LLC. - Bristol, New Hampshire

All posts within: caregiver tips

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Addressing Alzheimer’s Care& Planning Fun Activities During the Holidays

Holiday activities can be upsetting for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Here are some caregiver tips to help keep seniors with Alzheimer’s/dementia involved in the holiday activities without being overwhelmed or put into a dangerous situation.

· Stretch out the celebration. If opening a lot of presents at once might create a disturbance, then open a few gifts at a time.

· A large noisy party with friends, neighbors, and lots of kids may be too much stimulation for the family member with Alzheimer's. Host small get-together visits instead, stretched out over several days.

· Keep a normal daily routine as much as possible, making the celebrations fit into the daily schedule.

· Create a soothing atmosphere by playing holiday music throughout the day. Mental grooves are deep for these tunes, which makes them especially soothing.

Repetition is often soothing to someone with cognitive impairment and can stoke feelings of accomplishment and pride. Try the following repetitious holiday activities to do together.

String garlands. All that’s needed is a long heavy thread and a darning needle. Try stringing cranberries, popcorn, even O-shaped cereal (Fruit Loops are cheerfully colorful). Using something edible also provides an extended enjoyment if there is a place outside to place the garland to attract birds so the senior can watch that activity as well.

Link paper chains. These require a bit more dexterity: cut strips of paper, curl them around one another and staple. This is a good project to have an older grandchild supervise while the person with dementia helps in whatever way she can. Use construction paper or, for a really festive look, heavy-stock wrapping paper. Double the fun with decorating the area together.

Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire is here to help you determine the best plan of long-term care that will meet your loved one’s needs and maintain your loved one’s quality of life as they age. If you're looking for a partner in care coordination in the Lakes Region or Central New Hampshire, call us today at 603-217-0149, and let us help make your life a little easier.

Sources: Caring.com, Caring for the Aged/Suite 101

Tags:   Alzheimer's Disease, caregiver tips

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Make the Festive Season Fun & Bright for Seniors!

Planning and careful timing is necessary for any successful outing—and a day out with a frail elderly person should never be spontaneous. The first step to enjoying a safe trip out is to decide if the activity is appropriate for the elderly person. And, talk about the outing with the individual and make sure they sound up for the adventure.

Considerations:

· the amount of walking involved, and if there is parking nearby

· if the destination is flat or has hills or stairs to climb

· if there is wheelchair access (if appropriate)

· whether there is cover and shade

· whether there are toilet facilities

· whether there are chairs or benches available in case the elderly person needs a rest

Holiday Outing Ideas

Take a leisurely family drive to look at the local city holiday lights. If possible, invite the senior to your house to decorate. Help your elderly loved one attend a holiday party especially for seniors at a local senior center. Sometimes there will be a special music feature and/or games. Attend local and community plays. Besides the local theater, stage house or ballet, affordable plays and performances done by elementary schools, junior highs and high schools are just as entertaining and more affordable.

Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire is here to help with holiday outings, and to help you determine the best plan of long-term care that will meet your loved one’s needs and maintain your loved one’s quality of life. If you're looking for a partner in care coordination in the Lakes Region or Central New Hampshire, contact us today at 603-217-0149, and let us help make your life a little easier.

Sources: eHow, Elderly Care Tips

Tags:   caregiver tips

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Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Home for the Holidays: Recognizing Care is Needed

Holiday visits sometimes greet family members with alarming signs that additional care or daily assistance is needed in the home of aging loved ones. With busy schedules or long distances separating families for much of the year, subtle (or not-so-subtle) indicators can easily be missed. This year, make holiday visits a time to evaluate the needs of elderly relatives, and encourage in-home care solutions that will enhance quality of life and ensure safety at home long after the holidays are over. Remember that checking for warning signs is not for the purposes of judgment or criticism; it’s a check for wellness, wellbeing and safety.

Right away, an unexpected disheveled appearance of a loved one may be noticed during a holiday visit. Failure to keep up with daily hygiene routines such as bathing, tooth brushing and other basic grooming could indicate health problems such as dementia, depression, or physical impairments. Inspect to see if clothes are clean and if the individual appears to be maintaining good grooming habits.

At the dinner table, appetites may appear to be healthy during the holidays, but noticeable weight loss without trying could be a sign that something’s wrong. For the elderly, weight loss could be related to many factors, including difficulty cooking or loss of taste or smell. Sometimes weight loss is a sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as malnutrition, dementia, depression, or even cancer.

Additionally, any big changes in the way things are done around the house could provide clues to health. For example, scorched pots could mean forgetting about food cooking on the stove. Neglected housework could be a sign of depression, dementia, or other problems. Check to see if the lights are working, the heat is on, the bathrooms are clean, or if clutter is blocking the walkways of the home.

But most importantly, during holiday gatherings, slow down and be sure to include elderly relatives in family traditions. After the holidays, if you’ve determined that additional care might be necessary for your loved ones, please do not hesitate to contact us at 603-217-0149. At Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire, we are here to help you determine the best plan of long-term care that will meet your loved one’s needs.

For further resources on recognizing care needs over the holidays, click here .

Tags:   better quality of life, caregiver tips, eldercare, holiday blues, home companion, private duty agencies

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Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Ten tips for talking to loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease

People with dementia have more difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions, as well as more trouble understanding others. And family and friends of Alzheimer’s patients are often unsure how to communicate clearly with their loved ones. Should you correct repetitive speech or stories? Are there other ways to communicate when words are out of reach?

Here are tips to help with communication and understanding:

• Talk slowly and clearly

• Tell the person who you are, even if you are the spouse or child

• Ask one question at a time

• Be careful not to interrupt

• Use short, simple words and sentences

• Avoid quizzing or asking “Do you remember when...?”

• Avoid criticizing, correcting and arguing

When words are not the way to communicate, remember:

• Sometimes the emotions being expressed are more important than what is being said

• If the person uses the wrong word or cannot find a word, try guessing the right one

• If you don’t understand what is being said, ask the person to point or gesture

For further tips on communicating with someone with Alzheimer’s disease, click here.

At Live Free Home Health Care of New Hampshire, our talented in-home caregivers have years of experience dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and are happy to help you and your loved ones learn how to more easily communicate. Contact us today at 603-217-0149 to find out more about our in-home care offerings and learn if home care is a good fit for your situation.

Tags:   Alzheimer's Disease, caregiver tips, communication tips, dementia

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Thursday, August 11, 2011

How to Make the Most of Your Minutes with the Doctor

Studies show that a typical visit to a doctor averages only 15 to 20 minutes. Additionally, a doctor’s appointment can often seem overwhelming, making it difficult to remember all the questions that need answering during a short appointment. In fact, nearly half of the U.S population has difficulty understanding health information, and as a result, could miss follow-up appointments, take medicine incorrectly or misunderstand doctors’ directions.

A little pre-planning and preparation is the key to getting the most out of the minutes with one’s doctor and ensuring health concerns get the proper attention they deserve. Preparing lists of questions and information beforehand can lessen the stress and worries often associated with a doctor’s appointment and ensure that all the information needed is received while at the appointment. It can also help the doctor to develop the best possible understanding of any symptoms and conditions.

Don’t be embarrassed to pull out your information and questions lists in front of the doctor. Not only can they be essential in helping you remember what questions need answering, but the doctor will also appreciate that you are serious about your health. Good doctors will always encourage their patients’ desire to understand as much as possible about their condition and will welcome your active participation in your care. If the physician does not, then perhaps a new one should be sought.

Never hesitate to use the words, “I don’t understand.” Doctors are only human and may not always know when they haven’t explained something well or in terms can be understood. When in doubt, repeat back what the doctor has said for clarification. The doctor can also be asked if he or she recommends any specific reading materials about the condition.

Keep in mind that a home care agency, such as Live Free Home Health Care, can also be an important advocate for your health and wellbeing. Among numerous skills and services, a home care agency can assist with scheduling and transportation to and from a doctor’s appointment, and in making certain that medications are taken as prescribed.

Live Free Home Health Care in Concord has experience in seamlessly arranging, coordinating and monitoring a multitude of services to make in-home care a comfortable, successful experience based on individual needs and desires. Contact Live Free Home Health Care today at 603-217-0149 to find out how easy and comforting extra care in the home can be.

Tags:   better quality of life, caregiver tips, communication tips, home care, home health care, private duty agencies

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