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

All posts within: caregiver tips

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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Monday, May 24, 2010

Random acts of kindness ARE contagious!

You’ve heard that a spirit of kindness and generosity can spread to others, but did you know that it’s actually been proven? A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that for people who have experienced generosity, not only does the spirit of generosity persist in them, but they also pass it on to others. This causes a ripple effect of kindness and generosity, in an ever expanding circle of people.

At Live Free Home Health Care, we believe in random acts of kindness every day! Our top-notch caregivers are carefully selected to make sure they possess special qualities such as patience, understanding, respect, and good listening skills….those we would feel comfortable with in our own home. Give us a call at 603-217-0149 to find out more about our services. In the meantime, take a moment to spread some random joy and generosity and start your own ripple effect for humankind.

Read more about the study in our May Live Free Home Health Care newsletter.

Tags:   caregiver tips, home care, home health care, in-home care providers, long-term care

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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

How to set the stage for a good night’s rest

As we get older, our circadian clocks get off….making it difficult to obtain a solid night’s rest on a regular basis.

Here are some tips to encourage your body to get a healthy sleep:

· Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends.

· Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.

· Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable, and cool.

· Sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress and pillows.

· Use the bedroom only for sleep.

· Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before bed.

· Exercise regularly—just do it a few hours before bedtime.

· Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol close to bedtime.

Contact Live Free Home Health Care to find out more information on how to get a healthy, restful night’s sleep and to learn about respite care and how we can help a family caregiver avoid the complications of sleep deprivation.

Tags:   caregiver tips, eldercare, in-home care providers, long-term care

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