For some of us, it may seem like a “no brainer” that an elderly loved one needs some help in order to remain living the lifestyle that they’ve chosen; whether it’s a physical or mental need that is making living independently a dangerous thing. However, for many seniors, accepting help signifies a loss of independence and closes the door on an important part of their lives, so when making a suggestion regarding senior care, we as family members need to be gentle and ensure we’re sensitive to the needs and wants of a senior. In order to ensure that you’re taking the best approach when talking a senior into accepting help, consider using the following techniques.

• Make sure you know how a senior feels about care options – would they like to be in a nursing home or assisted living facility; or would they rather remain living at home?

• When talking to a senior about the limitations that are resulting in your senior care suggestions, be sensitive and make sure that you do emphasize their positive qualities

• Make sure seniors understand you’re looking out for their health and safety, because you don’t want to lose such an important person in the lives of you and your family

• Don’t make any decisions without talking to them first (unless the senior is otherwise unable to be involved); simply make your suggestions gently

Sources:

1. Senior Journal

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Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.

Q – My dad was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms he’s exhibiting today are minimal, but I know that things won’t stay that way forever. As a family we’ve decided that the best thing for him is for me to care for him in his own home, but what can I expect and how can I deal with the emotional affects of being a family caregiver for a senior with Alzheimer’s?

A – People often underestimate just how difficult it can be for families of seniors who have received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Often the affects upon them can be even more grave than for the seniors who are actually experiencing the changes, because you witness someone you love changing before your eyes; transforming into someone that you might not even recognize. As a caregiver, you will deal with these affects, and will be under a great deal of stress that comes with the responsibilities of providing physical care. You need to make sure that while taking care of your loved one, that you take the time to take care of yourself as well. Educate yourself about Alzheimer’s so you know what to expect, don’t be afraid of getting help from a home care agency for respite care when you need to escape, and join a support group for family caregivers like you so you can talk about what you’re dealing with emotionally. Becoming a family caregiver for a senior with Alzheimer’s is both the best and the hardest thing you’re likely to do in your life.

Sources:

1. Health and Age

2. ProQuest

Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.

When choosing a Denver home care agency to provide care for an aging loved one, it’s important that families know exactly what they’re getting themselves into. There are a significant number of agencies out there that can place senior care specialists in the home of a senior, and they come at all price points. However, don’t be fooled by some of the home care agencies that promise the world at a lower price, because you’ll encounter more complications than its worth in many cases that can compromise the level of care received by your loved one.

Many home care registries operate in Denver and around the country; but they’re not to be confused with licensed home care agencies. These home care registries hire their senior care specialists as private contractors rather than employees which can be convoluted when it comes to dealing with the taxes and legalities surrounding hiring a caregiver from a registry. While some of these home care organizations charge less strictly for connecting families with caregivers, families may be responsible for paying taxes, workman’s compensation and other aspects. Some home care registries do cover these costs, but since caregivers under their wing are licensed contractors only, there can be some serious legal and financial repercussions which can drain the family of all resources if a workman’s compensation claim is made after the caregiver has had an accident or injury on the job.

By hiring a caregiver from a licensed home care agency like Home Instead Senior Care, all caregivers are employees of the company, categorized as “nurses and other healthcare workers who travel”. Based on this categorization, fees might be higher, but Home Instead takes care of all of the dirty work; paying all taxes and fees, with no repercussions to the senior’s family should the caregiver have an accident.

It may be tempting during times of financial crisis to pinch pennies in all areas of life, but when it comes to senior home care, you get what you pay for; so if you want quality care with no legal ramifications, go with a licensed home care agency, and you’ll have no regrets.

Sources:

1. Gilbert Guide

Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.

For Denver seniors who are able to live independently at home, even with the help of a home caregiver, their home can be a major source of pride. With many seniors moving into assisted living facilities or nursing homes, and other older adults believing that they may follow the same fate, seniors love it when they’re able to say that they live at home. Encouraging seniors to take pride in their homes is a great way to distract from the physical decline that comes with aging, and helps them better accept any help provided by a professional home caregiver.

Seniors should be encouraged to take pride in their homes by placing their own personal decorating touch in the home. Flower arranging is a great way for seniors to keep their home décor lively and fresh, while allowing them to exercise some creativity. Denver caregivers should consider flower arranging as a fun activity for them to participate in together. Flower arranging can be done with either fresh flowers or silk ones, and can really enhance a senior’s perception of their home!

Sources:

1. Suite101
2. Associated Content

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Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.

I struggled with the idea of getting in home help for my aging father for a number of years. For the longest time I felt that he would be undignified accepting help, so I extended myself to try to provide it for him, hoping he’d feel that it was a question of spending time together more than it was providing for his shortcomings. Since he had given up driving, I drove to his Denver home, nearly 30 miles from my own three days a week to transport him to appointments and out on errands; working around my schedule dictated by my career and family. Anytime I came by, I also made sure he had a fridge and cupboard full of food, and even prepared some meals for him to freeze and reheat. I’d also give him a hand by doing laundry and tidying things up so he wouldn’t have the physical burden of having to do it by himself.

One day I realized that while I of course wanted to spend time with my dad, I just couldn’t do it all, and acting as his primary caregiver to avoid hiring a professional one in Denver was taking a serious toll on my life and my family. Finally, I had to make the hard decision to give up being a family caregiver, and going back to just being a daughter to my aging father. Instead, I now have a professional in-home caregiver going into his home 3 days a week to complete the tasks I was doing for my dad, and when I come to visit, I just focus on appreciating our time together.

Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.

After a senior has suffered from a medical emergency or accident, the last thing they need to worry about when returning home from a hospital or rehabilitation center is to worry about how they’re going to manage to take care of themselves and their Denver home. After retuning home from the hospital, Denver seniors need to focus on their recovery, regaining their strength and health so they can get on with their lives; however, this is a process that just cannot be rushed as much as they might want it to be. In order to help seniors with the transition from hospital or rehab to home, Home Instead Senior Care in-home caregivers can ensure that all seniors need to focus on is getting better and that they don’t take on any unnecessary burdens that might compromise their recovery.

Bringing a caregiver into a senior’s home can help them through the recovery process; Home Instead Senior Care’s caregivers can help seniors with dressing and bathing, getting in and out of bed, and can even help them to complete any assigned physiotherapy exercises. Having a caregiver help a senior around the house, also ensures that they don’t need to worry about maintaining there home, since caregivers can take care of those tasks; from light-housekeeping, to laundry, cooking and errand running.

Hire a home caregiver for your aging loved one when they leave the hospital, and know that all they need to worry about is their recovery.

Sources:

1. Caring.com

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Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.

One of the reasons that I chose to hire a professional in-home caregiver for my elderly mother when she turned 80 was because her health was at risk. As her dementia progressed, my mother was becoming neglectful of some aspects of her own care, which included forgetting to take crucial medications that were essential for maintaining her health. She didn’t really need medical care per say, but when I inquired to friends around Denver regarding non-medical options; I was advised that non-medical professional caregivers would not be able to help with administering medication for my mother.

Not one to go on hearsay alone, I decided to do some investigation and started calling around to Denver home care agencies. Fortunately, after speaking with a representative from Home Instead Senior Care I learned that while they would not take complete responsibility for administering my mother’s medications, they could provide her with reminders to ensure that all prescriptions were taken on time. After approaching my mother and the rest of the family about hiring a caregiver from Home Instead, we decided it would be the right choice; and now in addition to other services, the caregiver ensures that my mom never misses taking her pills from her medicet box right on schedule!

Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.

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For many seniors, agreeing to accept help from a family member or caregiver is like the first admission that they’re aging and losing independence. That being said, it should come as no surprise that many seniors are reluctant to accept help, and even fewer suggest hiring a senior caregiver or moving to a senior residence or nursing home themselves. As a senior care specialist in Denver, once families have recognized that seniors need help at home, they ask me how they can convince their parents that it’s time to accept it.

While there is no answer that I can provide that will work to convince all Denver seniors that it’s time to accept help, it’s important to help seniors to understand that it’s about keeping them safe and making their lives easier; while helping them maintain their independence while living at home. Many family caregivers find that seniors may be willing to accept help when the options are out on the table, which can include assisted living facilities or nursing homes to help keep them safe and alleviate the burden of taking care of a home. When faced with these choices, senior care at home with a professional caregiver always looks like the more desirable choice. Seniors should also be aware that nothing is forever; if you choose to work with a reputable caregiving agency, if seniors are displeased, they’re able to cancel the caregiving services at anytime or request that a new caregiver come into their home.

Once families get over the hurdle of getting seniors to accept help, they’ll find that their elderly loved ones stress levels are reduced, and more often than not, their caregiver becomes one of their most trusted friends!

Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.

As a geriatric care specialist, one of the most common questions I receive from Denver seniors and their family members is what they can do to prevent the effects of day-to-day stresses from impacting senior health. While often they expect that I will suggest rigorous changes to their lifestyle, my main suggestion is to tell them only to look as far as those around them. By forming a support network of close friends and family members, seniors can reduce their stresses, gain a sense of belonging, and get the support they need to deal with feelings of stress. By staying connected with friends and family, seniors can feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves, which can also distract them from their problems. While simply spending time with friends and family; playing with grandchildren, taking a walk with an adult child, or going to a movie with a friend can be an enjoyable passed time, it also further secures a relationship giving seniors someone to turn to in times of stress.

So, I recommend that if seniors don’t have a strong support network of loved ones and people who care for them; it’s time to get out there and make one. Seniors can join Denver groups for people of their demographic, and shouldn’t be shy about approaching people who they can relate to. However, it is important that they don’t bring people into their lives who cause additional and unnecessary stress.

Sources:

1. Mayo Clinic
2. The American Institute of Stress

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Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.

Stress sucks, but it’s a reality that many seniors and their caregivers experience on a regular basis as they battle their way through stressful care and medical decisions. Are you a family caregiver or a senior who’s battling stress effectively? Find out by completing the following checklist.

• You understand the importance of a healthy diet, and the contribution that it makes to reducing and managing inevitable stress.

• To deal with stress you take time out for yourself without feeling guilty. You know that you can better provide for your family and your senior care recipient in Denver if you schedule in some much needed “you” time.

• Your weekly life includes simple relaxing activities like reading a book in a quiet location, taking a hot bath, spending some time gardening, or doing another activity you find stress relieving and enjoyable.

• You’ve tried other forms of relaxation which have proven benefits to help cope with stress, like yoga, meditation, aromatherapy and acupuncture. You go into these activities with an open mind, and a willingness to let go, enjoy yourself and truly relax.

• When you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress, you talk to a confidant about what you’re feeling, or attend a support group for people in a similar situation. Groups are available both for senior care providers and seniors.

• You spend time with friends and family and engage in regular social activities. This can help relax you and put a positive outlook on your life!

Sources:

1. American Institute of Stress

2. About

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Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.