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

All posts within: safety alert

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Live Free Home Health Care Meets Your Level of Care Needs

At Live Free Home Health Care, we understand that each individual is different and so is his or her plan of care. Since no two patients are alike, we offer a complimentary in-home assessment and the following guidelines that anyone can use to understand care needs.

Minimal Care at Home:

• Emergency Responsiveness: The senior is able to negotiate stairs, call for assistance or respond appropriately to someone helping him or her during an emergency.

• Mobility: The senior is able to walk and transfer himself or herself from a bed or chair independently with infrequent falling.

• Activities of Daily Living (bathing, dressing, feeding, etc.): The senior is able to accomplish most activities with little help; perhaps needs assistance with meals or housekeeping, or reminders about medications, assistance grooming, etc.

• Mental Status: The senior has little to no mental impairment.

More to Full-time Care at Home:

• Emergency Responsiveness: The senior needs definite or major assistance in the event of an emergency.

• Mobility: The senior is prone to falls and needs either stand-by or full assistance walking or transferring.

• Activities of Daily Living: The senior needs reminders and/or full assistance with many or all activities of daily living.

• Mental Status: The senior has mild to moderate memory impairment, becomes disoriented often, and/or exhibits mild confusion.

If a senior is in need of full, around-the-clock assistance, family members may want to consider an assisted living facility, although home care may still be a viable option. If you're looking for a partner in home care in Concord, the Lakes Region or Central New Hampshire, contact Live Free Home Health Care today at 603-217-0149, and let us help make providing quality care a little easier.

Tags:   eldercare, home companion, home safety, medication management, safety alert

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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

How to Take a Proper Blood Pressure Reading and Knowing When to Call 911

For those with heart disease or anyone who is required to take regular blood pressure readings, it is important to get as accurate a result as possible.

To ensure accuracy, there are a few rules to follow:

• Take your readings at the same time each day, such as morning or evening. Take two or three readings one minute apart each time and record all three results. Your healthcare provider can average your results and set your target goal.

• Sit with your back straight and supported and your feet flat on the floor; don’t cross your legs. Support your arm on a flat surface, with the upper arm at heart level.

• Make sure the middle of the cuff is placed directly over your brachial artery and fits correctly. To find your artery, put your hand out – palm facing up. Trace a line from the outside of your thumb, up your outer arm to the bend in your elbow. At that bend is your brachial artery.

• Do not smoke, drink caffeinated beverages or exercise within the 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure.

If your blood pressure reading is higher than 180/110, it is an emergency. Call 9-1-1 immediately.

To access a free chart in which to record your blood pressure readings, click here.

A home healthcare nurse at Live Free Home Health Care can also assist with taking and recording accurate blood pressure readings and reporting them to your physician. Live Free Home Healthcare in the Concord area takes pride in coordinating care seamlessly between your care providers.

Besides Concord, New Hampshire, we also service the rest of the Lakes region and central New Hampshire. Call us today at 603-217-0149.

Tags:   eldercare, Heart Disease, safety alert

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Keeping Mom and Dad Safe at Home

Generally, elderly parents want to remain living in their own home. However, remaining in the home becomes a concern when children see their parents slowing down, perhaps even having trouble with handling stairs and doing general daily activities. Yet, with parents' mental and physical health currently not creating problems, there seems to be no imminent need to search out support services or other accommodations for aging parents.

This is now the time to evaluate the home to make it safe and secure for your loved ones -- now and in the near future -- in anticipation of aging disabilities that may occur. Help and support are available. The nation as a whole is more aware of elderly needs and services and products are becoming available at an outstanding pace.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states,

“Employment of personal and home care aides is projected to grow by 51 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The expected growth is due, in large part, to the projected rise in the number of elderly people, an age group that often has mounting health problems and that needs some assistance with daily activities.” Bureau of labor Statistics-Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition

This growing need for aides and services also encompasses

• home remodeling services -- making a home more serviceable to the elderly;
• safety alert systems and technology;
• motion sensors to monitor movement;
• telehealth services -- using home-based computer systems for the doctors office or a nurse to monitor vital signs and
• even a pill dispenser that notifies when it is time to take medication.

Where do you begin to make sure your elderly family member is safe and managing well in his or her home?

Visit often and at different times of the day and night. Make note of daily activities that appear challenging and where changes might be made to add safety and convenience. Remove rugs that slide -- causing a fall -- and move furniture with sharp edges. Set the water heater at a lower temperature. This will protect their older sensitive skin from scalds and burns. Be sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are in place.

Bathrooms are a hazard area for the elderly. Grab bars by the toilet and shower are a must to help prevent falls. There are easy to install bars at your local hardware store if you want to do the work yourself. Another item that is good to have is a shower stool or chair.

If you are not sure of what needs to be done, consider hiring a professional. There are companies that specialize in home remodeling and accommodation for seniors. Michelle Graham of Accessible Design by Studio G4 says about senior home remodel projects,

“The main thing we incorporate in all of our projects is a careful study of needs and potential needs that may develop throughout a client's lifespan.”

Keep in mind what future home adjustments might be needed for your parents to “age in place” in their home.

Home safety or medical alert companies provide GPS-based bracelets or pendants to track the elderly at home who tend to wander. Or the companies may provide alarm devices such as pendants or bracelets which allow the elderly to alert someone if there has been a fall or a sudden health-related attack. In the event an alarm has been triggered, a 24 hour monitoring service will alert the family or medical emergency services or call a neighbor depending on previous instructions. In addition there are companies that will install motion sensors in the home to monitor the elderly on a 24 hour basis.

Don't forget your parents' community as a valuable resource for helping them stay in their home. Take Margaret Muller as an example. At 82 years of age, Margaret lives alone in her small home. She manages very well with the help of her local Senior Center. The Center's “Senior Companion” program sees that Margaret is taken to the store for groceries and other needs and checks in with her often to see how she is doing. Once a day, the Senior Center delivers a hot healthy meal to her door. Having these services and visits gives Margaret the help she needs and peace of mind that she is not alone.

Neighbors, local church groups, senior centers and city centers are some places to look for assistance. Most of the time there is little or no cost for these services.

Your state aging services unit is a valuable community resource. The National Area on Aging website www.aoa.gov states:

“AoA, through the Older Americans Act and other legislation, supports programs that help older adults maintain their independence and dignity in their homes and communities. In addition AoA provides funding for a range of supports to family caregivers.”

Some of the programs the site lists are:

“Supportive Services and Senior Centers

Nutrition Services

National Family Caregiver Support Program

Grants for Native Americans

Nursing Home Diversion Grants

Aging & Disability Resource Centers

Evidence-Based Disease Prevention

Long-Term Care Planning

Alzheimer's Disease Grants

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities”

A few thoughts on hiring home care aides or live-in care givers.

The classifieds are filled with people looking for work as aides to the elderly. Many of these aides are well-qualified, honest people who will do a good job; but, of course, there will be some not so reputable. If you are looking to hire someone, be sure you interview and check references and qualifications. You will be responsible for scheduling that person and doing payroll and taxes as well. Be very sure you hire someone trustworthy, as the elderly seem to trust these helpers more than they should and therefore can easily be taken advantage of.

A professional home care service will eliminate your employment concerns. Professionally-provided aides are usually bonded and service is guaranteed. Home care companies take care of the scheduling and payment of their employees. Home care companies cater to the elderly in their homes by offering a variety of services. The National Care Planning Council lists many of these companies throughout the country on its website www.longtermcarelink.net.

These providers represent a rapidly growing trend to allow people needing help with long term care to remain in their home or in the community instead of going to a care facility. The services offered may include:

• companionship
• grooming and dressing
• recreational activities
• incontinent care
• handyman services
• teeth brushing
• medication reminders
• bathing or showering
• light housekeeping
• meal preparation
• respite for family caregivers
• errands and shopping
• reading email or letters
• overseeing home deliveries
• dealing with vendors
• transportation services
• changing linens
• laundry and ironing
• organizing closets
• care of house plants
• 24-hour emergency response
• family counseling
• phone call checks
• and much more.

Thomas Day, Director of the National Care Planning Council states,

“Care in the home provided by a spouse or a child is the most common form of long-term care in this country. About 73% of all long term care is provided in the home environment typically by family caregivers.”

As their caregiver, you can make the difference in the quality of life for your aging parents and if staying in their home is a possibility, you have the resources to make it happen.

The caring, friendly staff at Live Free Home Health Care can help you or a loved one remain safe at home. Give us a call at 603-217-0149 or visit our website at www.livefreehomehealthcare.com.

Tags:   caregiver, home safety, long-term care, medical alert, safety alert, telehealth

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