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

All posts within: family caregivers

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Stress Management for Family Caregivers

Managing stress is all about taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. Stress management also involves changing the stressful situation when possible, changing reactions to the situation when it cannot be changed, taking care of your health, and making time for rest and relaxation.

While peaceful meditation, exercising and enjoyable activities are great outlets for stress relief, the greatest protection against stress is a strong support network for when times get rough. It’s important to allow others to help alleviate some of the responsibilities and pressures. With trusted friends, family members, and a caregiving team such as Live Free Home Health Care, life’s pressures will not seem as overwhelming.

Also seek out community support groups for caregivers:

 People meet in a given place each week or month.

 You get face-to-face contact and a chance to make new friends who live near you.

 The meetings get you out of the house, get you moving, provide a social outlet, and reduce feelings of isolation.

 Since the people in the support group are from your area, they'll be more familiar with local resources and issues.

For further information on care support, click here .

Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire is here to offer further guidance and home care options that can give you a well-deserved break. If you're looking for a partner in care 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.

Tags:   family caregivers, home care, in-home care providers, private duty agencies

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Need for Respite: Recognizing Caregiver Stress and the Effects of Overload

Family caregivers often find themselves running in emergency mode, and eventually the mind and body pay the price. Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. In fact, raised stress levels can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and can speed up the aging process.

Take this quick quiz to determine if you are in control of stress or if stress is controlling you:

 When I feel agitated, do I know how to quickly calm and soothe myself?

 Can I easily let go of my anger?

 Can I turn to others to help me calm down and feel better?

 When I come home at night, do I walk in the door feeling alert and relaxed?

 Am I seldom distracted or moody?

 Am I able to recognize upsets that others seem to be experiencing?

 When my energy is low, do I know how to boost it?

Feeling frazzled and overwhelmed is a key indicator that it’s time to take action to nurture your nervous system. You can protect yourself by learning the following signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects. When under pressure, behavior can present as:

 Talking too fast or too loud

 Yawning

 Fiddling and twitching, nail biting, grinding teeth, drumming fingers, pacing, etc.

 Bad moods: irritability, being critical, overly sensitive replies, anger and irrationality

 Making less realistic judgments

 Inability to concentrate

 Being more forgetful

 Making more mistakes

 Disorganization, confusion and worry

 Neglect of personal appearance and personal hygiene

Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire is here to offer further guidance and options that can give you a well-deserved break from caregiving responsibilities. If you're looking for a partner in home care 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.

Tags:   eldercare, family caregivers, home care, in-home care providers, private duty agencies

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

What is Respite Care?

Respite care may be the answer you have been looking for to get the rest and relaxation that you need from the daily caregiving grind. HELPGUIDE.org explains that respite care provides time off for family members who care for someone who is ill, injured or frail. Respite care can take place in an adult day center, the home of the care recipient, a residential setting such as an assisted living facility or nursing home, or even a vacation setting.

Effective, sustainable caregiving depends on meeting the caregiver's own needs for nurture, reassurance, support and periodic respite. Respite allows for relief from the daily responsibilities of caring for the care recipient and is essential for all caregivers, whether they work in a caregiving facility or at home with family members or close friends.

The following organizations provide useful information to caregivers on a variety of topics including respite:

• The Alzheimer’s Association: http://www.alz.org

• The Family Caregiver Alliance: http://www.caregiver.org

• The National Alliance for Caregiving: http://www.caregiving.org

• National Adult Day Services Association: http://www.nadsa.org

Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire is here to offer further guidance and options that can give you a well-deserved break. For further resources on respite care, click here .

If you're looking for a partner in home care 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.

Tags:   eldercare, family caregivers, home care, private duty agencies

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Wednesday, January 04, 2012

How to Be an Effective Family Caregiver

To be an effective caregiver, you must first care for yourself. If you reduce your burdens and keep a healthy balance for yourself, you will be in a better position to care for your loved one.

In addition to respite care for those much needed breaks, join a caregiver support group in your area to be able to share your thoughts, feelings and information with others in similar circumstances. Explore community resources such as adult daycare centers, in-home respite care and meal delivery services. This will provide free time for errands and personal time as well as providing health monitoring, transportation, nursing care and therapeutic recreation for the care recipient.

Tips to Reduce Caregiver Burn-Out

• Don't take it personally. Remind yourself that any emotionally hurtful behavior on the part of your loved one is a result of illness.

• Take time out to do fun things like taking an exercise class or going on day trips every now and then.

• If friends can't come over, and it is impossible to leave the care situation, take time each day for a phone conversation with a friend or family member. Even a brief chat can lift spirits.

• Set limits for yourself. Let your loved one know what you are capable of giving in terms of time and assistance. You don't need to be confrontational. Simply ask for what you need in ways that honor yourself and others. Use ‘I' statements.

• Engage in hobbies or favorite pastimes.

• Quiet your mind through soothing music, prayer, meditation or relaxation.

• Focus on finding one activity a day that brings enjoyment to you. Respite does not have to mean leaving home; it can be taking a momentary break to do something positive.

• Eat nutritious meals. Don't give in to stress-driven urges for sweets or drink too much alcohol.

• Get enough sleep. If kept up at night, try a nap during the day to make up some sleep.

• Listen and communicate carefully with doctors, seek second opinions and monitor medication schedules.

• A missed medication or incorrect diagnosis can wreak havoc on stress levels. Be a constant advocate for your loved one.

Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire is here to offer further guidance and options that can give you a well-deserved break. If you're looking for a partner in home care 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.

Tags:   caregiver, family caregivers

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Tammy Niles Named Care Manager at Live Free Home Health Care

Jason Harvey, Co-Owner of Live Free Home Health Care LLC, headquartered in Bristol, announced recently the hiring of Tammy Niles, of New Hampton, as Care Manager for the agency. “We are very excited that Tammy is joining our team. She is going to be a tremendous asset to our agency and we are lucky to have her. Having Tammy in this position will allow us to continue to grow and fulfill our mission of being the premier provider of private duty home care services in New Hampshire.”

Niles comes to Live Free Home Health Care following a four plus year stint with Comfort Keepers, where she started as a caregiver and departed in the position of Client Care Coordinator. Most recently, Niles served as Manager of the J.Crew Outlet Store in Tilton. “There were many times during my day at J. Crew that I would find myself speaking with someone who was trying to work and care for a family member or friend at the same time,” said Niles. “My council was always to seek help. That they didn't have to tackle this alone.”

As Care Manager at Live Free Home Health Care, Niles will act as liaison between clients, their families and Live Free Home Health Care staff to ensure the highest quality of care is being delivered. According to Clinical Director Jennifer Harvey, RN, BSN, Niles will be a frontline support for Live Free Home Health Care caregivers in addition to drawing on input and teamwork of Live Free Home Health Care nurses. “She will assist with referral calls and establishing services for our clients, and assist the entire Live Free Home Health Care staff with ongoing training and continuing education, and will play an integral role in the seamless delivery of care,” stated Harvey.

Niles lists a two-year period as a caregiver for her grandmother that focused her attention on home health care. “My grandmother had suffered a fall and I realized immediately that, although a local nursing home was making every effort to get her to sign a contract to live with them, her best avenue for herself and all of us was to recuperate in her own home,” explained Niles. “We spent two years together and became very close friends. I also had a local agency helping and was very impressed. I found myself in the position of many initially, in that I had no idea where to turn or what services were available.”

Jennifer Harvey  shared her thoughts on Niles beginning her career with Live Free Home Health Care. “Tammy shares our vision of being the number one provider of private duty home care. She also shares common values of honesty, integrity, and doing things the right way. I am thrilled she has chosen to join our team.”

“Jason, Jennifer and I had partnered to provide care for a couple of mutual clients. They both always took my calls and Jennifer offered her support as a nurse when I felt I was facing an obstacle in providing care that could best be resolved by someone with a medical background and knowledge. Her only motivation to offer her support was to provide the absolute best care to the client,” explained Niles. “I know firsthand that quality of care comes before anything else at Live Free Home Health Care. That, and their wanting their caregivers to find satisfaction and fulfillment in their work, is why I am so happy to join their team.”

In her spare time, Niles enjoys reading, baking, and the outdoors, especially hiking and kayaking. Niles may be reached at 603-217-0147, or by stopping by the agency offices at 365 Lake Street in Bristol.

Tags:   family caregivers, Jason Harvey, Jennifer Harvey, Live Free Home Health Care

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