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

Friday, March 02, 2012

Experience a better kind of home care

A question I am asked quite frequently by prospective new clients is what sets Live Free Home Health Care apart from other agencies they are interviewing. What sets us apart is quite simply the fact that we are a true full service agency. What I mean by that is often times when a family first contacts us they are simply looking for a little bit of help for mom or dad with some basic things like light housekeeping, healthy meal preparation, or companionship. We can certainly do all that. But as a Registered Nurse with almost 15 years of experience working with the elderly, I understand that needs will change over time as your loved one continues to age. At some point they quite likely will need more hands on care in order to maintain their safety and independence at home. That is the peace of mind we are able to provide you, we are able to start off with basic care needs and also able to continue to provide care as time progresses. Most private duty home care agencies simply cannot offer the level of care and support that we can because they do not have nurses or nursing assistants on staff and they are not trained to recognize subtle changes that may occur.

It all starts with that first meeting. To ensure that the proper care plan is created, one of our Registered Nurses, usually myself, meet with all new families. Together we create a safe plan of care that is customized to fit the level of care needed at that particular time. If the care is currently basic like companionship or healthy meal preparation we can provide you with a companion caregiver and because we have professional nurses on staff and licensed nursing assistants we know how important diets are for people with diabetes and other health conditions. Agencies who only employ non-licensed staff simply cannot offer this level of expertise. If more hands on care is needed, help with transfers from bed to chair, assistance with personal grooming, medication reminders, wound care, things of this nature, then we can provide a licensed nursing assistant who has gone through an extensive course and passed a state licensing exam. In our experience we can actually provide this level of care at a lower cost than other agencies provide non licensed caregivers.

Once the care needs are established I work with our Care Manager Tammy and our scheduler Michelle, who herself is a licensed nursing assistant, to choose the right team to provide care. It doesn’t end there however. Often times what I hear from families who have come to our agency after being with other agencies or I hear from caregivers who have worked at other agencies is that they are amazed at the amount of ongoing training and supervision that we provide for each and every case. Our lead licensed nursing assistant, Stacy, ensures that our staff of caregivers is continually trained and that they are comfortable with all aspects of their job. I am not shy about saying that I know from experience that we invest more in ongoing training than any other agency. That is my nurse background in me. I take very seriously the trust that families place in us and I feel I owe it to them to ensure that I only place the care of their loved ones in the hands of very well trained caregivers.

This is the value Live Free Home Health Care brings that most competitors cannot. Because our caregivers are either licensed nursing assistants or care providers trained by one of our nurses, we can spot potential health problems and intervene before it worsens or causes a hospitalization.

Inviting an agency into your home or a loved one’s home for personal care or home medical needs is a big step. Wouldn’t it be more comforting to know that the agency you choose has professionally trained nurses overseeing the care that is provided? To see more on what sets us apart from the competition click here.

Tags:   better quality of life, Live Free Home Health Care

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Outdoor Precautions and Community Monitoring

At Live Free Home Health Care, we want to share additional ideas for outdoor monitoring that may offer peace of mind and safety for those deciding to age in place—in the comfort of their own homes. Family caregivers, with their finger on the pulse of their loved one’s needs, can apply the following simple home modifications and establish appropriate relationships with community officials to ensure wellbeing.

• Motion-sensitive lighting. Install lights that automatically turn on when there's any movement near them. These are a deterrent for intruders, plus if one forgets to turn on the lights before he/she leaves during the day, the lights will be on when he/she returns home.

• Lights on timers. Install timers for outside lights and a light in the bathroom so they’ll turn on and stay on throughout the night. Timers are inexpensive and easily installed by plugging them into electrical outlets.

• Keys and the neighbors. If a senior lives in a neighborhood, the neighbors may be friends. If not, identify someone trustworthy to have an extra set of keys to the house. Exchange phone numbers so if there is a concern—the phone is not being answered or the mail is piling up—that identified person can check out the situation.

• Getting into the house. The path to and from the house should be clear of obstacles. If there is a garage but no automatic garage-door opener, have one installed. Wherever the car is parked should be well lit, which can also be controlled by remote control as the driveway is entered.

• Friendly local police. Find out from the local police if there is a neighborhood watch group in the area and let that group know the living arrangements and that some monitoring is needed.

• Friendly postal carriers and utility meter readers. Most mail carriers work the same route every day and get to know a neighborhood quite well. The U.S. Postal Service has a program to alert the Area Agency on Aging if the carrier believes there is a problem. Utility companies do the same.

Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire is here to offer further guidance and options that can give you the choice to age in place. If you're looking for a partner in home care in the Lakes Region or Central New Hampshire, contact Live Free Home Health Care today at 603-217-0149, and let us help make your life a little easier.

Tags:   home health care, home safety, in-home care providers

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Option to Age at Home: Personal Emergency Response System

For seniors who maintain a certain level of independence, simple monitoring and installations around the home may be all that is necessary to promote a safe, independent lifestyle.

Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)

• The most simple, easy to use monitoring system on the market.

• Sold by most home care companies, including Live Free Home Health Care

• Installs easily.

• Comes with a pendant or bracelet activated when pushed or when someone falls.

When shopping for a PERS, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) encourages the shopper to:

• Check out several systems before making a decision.

• Find out if the system can be used with other response centers. For example, can the same system be used if moving to another residence?

• Ask about the pricing, features, and servicing of each system and compare costs.

• Make sure the system is easy to use.

• Test the system to make sure it works from every point in and around the home. Make sure nothing interferes with transmissions.

• Read the purchase, rental, or lease agreement carefully before signing.

Read more about Live Free Home Health Care’s Personal Emergency Response System .

Live Free Home Health Care of Concord, New Hampshire is here to offer further guidance and options that can give you the option to age in place. 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:   home care, home safety, medical alert

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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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Thursday, February 02, 2012

High Tech Home Care Options for Aging in Place

Technology is transforming the possibilities for aging safely at home. From fall prevention to emergency alerts to medication reminders, devices are allowing more seniors to “age in place” in the comfort of home. The following are products to consider for loved ones receiving in-home care:

• Webcams: Installing webcams throughout the home allows both family members and caregivers the ability to virtually check in on the senior at any time. Webcams also allow family members who live far way to video chat with their loved ones.

• Sensor Monitors: In conjunction with webcams, sensors can be placed throughout the home to track movement. These are particularly handy for seniors with ambulation or wandering issues. Most sensor systems connect to a TV or computer monitor and an internet connection.

• Medical Alert Pendants: These handy devices have been around for a few years now, but continue to be updated to increase effectiveness. They are worn by the senior and the button is pressed in the event of a fall or other emergency, connecting the senior to 911 or another emergency response service. Check out Live Free Home Health Care’s medical alert pendants .

• Automatic MedicationReminders/Dispensers: These are perfect for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. An alarm goes off, alerting the senior to take his or her medication when an alarm sounds, and dispenses the correct dosage. If the senior misses a dose, an alert is sent to a 24 hour care center after 30 minutes. Check out Live Free Home Health Care’s medication dispenser .

Technology is increasing the level of independence that seniors can have in the home. 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 your life a little easier.

Tags:   better quality of life, eldercare, home safety, medical alert, medication management

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