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

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Opportunities for Senior Social Engagement at Home

Nothing can take the place of face-to-face human companionship and interaction, but as a senior becomes increasingly frail, it isn’t as easy to get out of the house for social activity, and alternatives must be found. Now, studies are showing that the Internet may be able to provide some of that missing social and mental stimulation for seniors. Last year Dr. Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, reported that middle-aged and older adults with little Internet experience were able to trigger key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning after just one week of surfing the Web.

Although I think this is an interesting study and would certainly encourage seniors to enjoy using the Internet, I believe it is vitally important to provide in-person companionship as well. At Live Free Home Health Care, our well trained caregivers not only provide that much needed social interaction for our clients, but also can assist with suitable mentally engaging activities that fit the client’s personal interests. Our caring staff and excellent home care services help make smiles each and every day.

For more information on this study, please view our July newsletter here.

Read about Project GOAL (Getting Older Adults Online).

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Monday, July 19, 2010

Hike For the Trails

Hikers wanted for the 2010 Hike for the Trails Event

Live Free Home Health Care is Title Sponsor

Since 1904, the Squam Lakes Association (SLA) has worked to promote the protection, careful use, and shared enjoyment of the lakes, mountains, forests, open spaces and wildlife of the Squam Lakes Region. On Saturday July 24th, the Squam Lakes Association (SLA) will host their annual Hike for the Trails Event. Hike for the Trails is a hike-a-thon that supports SLA trail maintenance on over 50-miles of trails in the Squam and Sandwich Ranges. The SLA trail network offers stunning views, and many hikes take only a few hours to complete. This makes them a welcome outing for novices as well as serious hikers, and they offer great options for family events.

In fact, SLA hikes are so well-loved, that hikers throughout New England travel to walk these trails, making upkeep and reconstruction projects critical. Some trails, like the ultra-popular Rattlesnake, see almost constant traffic year round. This steady foot traffic can damage the trails and surrounding environment, so SLA volunteers work steadily to rebuild the trails. Funds raised from Hike for the Trails go directly to support the SLA trail crew and local volunteers, who work tirelessly to keep these trails beautiful and to protect the surrounding environment. Local sponsors, such as title sponsor Live Free Home Health Care, and corporate sponsors Riveredge Marina, Rockywold-Deephaven Camps, and Bridgewater Power Company, recognize the value of these trails to the community and have generously donated to the cause.

The SLA welcomes hikers of all abilities to participate in Hike for The Trails. Participants can choose from a beginner, intermediate or expert level hikes and will receive a free event tee shirt. An array of additional prizes from event sponsors will be awarded. Participants will meet at the Mt. Morgan Trailhead in Holderness at 8:30 am on Saturday July 24th to kick off the event. For more information on Hike for the Trails, please call (603) 968-7336 or visit http://www.squamlakes.org.

Photo caption:

Live Free Home Health Care Co-Administrators Jason and Jennifer Harvey ( 4th and 5th from left) present a $1000. check as Title Sponsors to SLA staffers (L to r) Kristin Spera, Garr Corcoran, Kayte Knower and Kevin DiGuglielmo.

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Friday, July 16, 2010

Battling Junk Mail and Phone Sales Exploitation in Seniors

Nobody likes to deal with junk mail or those annoying sales calls that come on a weeknight during dinnertime. But for a lonely senior, sometimes that mail or those calls feel more like an invitation. And unfortunately, solicitors know this and sometimes exploit seniors because of it. One daughter told me how she discovered her aging mother had five subscriptions to one magazine. When she questioned her mother about it, her mother simply replied that she didn’t recall signing up for that magazine at all. However, a quick look at the checkbook revealed several checks made out to the same subscription company for that title.

As our parents start to become frail and cognitive abilities decline, it is important to recognize the signs to identify and protect against elder fraud.

Seniors need to know that:

- It is illegal for companies that operate contests or sweepstakes to ask one to pay to enter or claim a prize or even suggest that chances of winning will improve if there is a purchase.

- It’s illegal for telemarketers to ask for a fee upfront to help get a loan if they guarantee or strongly imply that the loans will be made.

- There is no reason to give a credit card number or bank account number to a telemarketer unless a payment is actually being made with that account.

- If payment is required before getting detailed information about the offer, it’s probably a scam.

For more tips on how to protect against elder fraud, click here, and to learn more about how Live Free Home Health Care can keep a loved one safe and provide companionship and personal care in the comfort of home, call (603) 217-0149.

Tags:   elder abuse, exploitation

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Thursday, July 08, 2010

Miles and Miles of Piles – How to Sensitively Help a Hoarder

Seniors are prone to hoarding. Just why that is, is a matter of conjecture. To date, there aren’t any conclusive studies on the subject. However, hoarding is often associated with dementia, and appears to increase along with the severity of the dementia. Additionally, approximately half of older adults who hoard also display mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Compulsive hoarding may also stem from a struggle for control and/or the tendency among those who lived during the Great Depression to hold onto things. The most commonly saved items include newspapers, old clothing, bags, books, mail, notes and lists.

There are different levels of hoarding, but any level can constitute a health threat. In fact, a study of elderly hoarders found that hoarding constituted a physical health threat to 81% of them, including threat of fire hazard, falling, unsanitary conditions, and inability to prepare food. So as you can see, those miles of piles of costume jewelry, furs from the 50’s, and stacks of newspapers dating back to World War II are not something to tsk tsk about. They could be the cause of a broken hip.

Helping people who hoard understand how their problem interferes in living the life they desire can be a powerful motivator when attempting to correct a hoarding situation, especially as it pertains to being able to live independently.

Live Free Home Health Care has trained home care aides who also can help with de-cluttering and organizing a home to create a safer environment for home care. For more tips to sensitively help with hoarding, click here.

To listen to an excellent interview on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Randy Frost and Gail Steketee, the writers of “Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things”, click here.

Tags:   caregiver tips, eldercare, home safety

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Thursday, July 01, 2010

Six Subtle Signs Indicating More Care at Home May Be Needed

It’s not easy to admit you need help, and when it comes to personal care needs, it can seem downright embarrassing. Couple this with a fear of losing your independence and it isn’t hard to imagine why many seniors keep their needs to themselves. This is why watching for signs that could indicate extra assistance is needed oftentimes falls on family, friends, or advisors. If there is a frail senior in your life that you suspect may be hiding a home care need, take note of the following:

1. Has there been a noticeable weight loss?

2. Has personal hygiene and general appearance been deteriorating?

3. Is the home no longer being neatly maintained?

4. Does the senior seem safe in the home and in good spirits?

5. Is the senior having increased difficulty getting around?

6. Has the senior been exhibiting forgetfulness or inappropriate behavior?

To learn more about how to recognize a need for home care assistance, click here, or for a free in-home care needs/safety assessment, call Live Free Home Health Care at (603) 217-0149.

Tags:   eldercare, home care

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