Rhode Island

When it was time to approach my mother about getting some help for her at home, I was so worried that telling her that she was getting too old to take care of herself would be devastating both to her and our relationship. I knew from previous conversations that the last thing my mom wanted was to end up stuck in a Rhode Island nursing home and assisted living facilities, so before I even brought up the subject, I did some research on what the options available in the area were. I came across professional in-home care as an option and immediately landed on it as the best choice; allowing my mother to maintain her lifestyle and independence while taking away some of the physical and emotional burden of struggling more and more with the care of a home and herself.

When I finally decided it was time to have the conversation, my mom was surprisingly receptive. I approached her saying that I felt that taking care of the home was getting to be too much for her, and I wanted to get her some help to take the stress away. I let her know that taking her away from her home was the last thing I’d suggest for her, because I wanted her to keep her life. Because she knew only her best interests were in mind, and because I’d clearly taken her specific needs and wants with regards to senior care into account, she agreed almost immediately. If I could suggest anything to another adult child trying to talk their loved one into accepting help, it’s to make sure you use the right approach that’s sensitive to the senior’s needs so you don’t insult or degrade them, and make it clear you’re making the suggestion to better their lives.

Sources:

1. Senior Journal

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

It may be selfish, but there are times that I can honestly say I’ve had enough. I care for my elderly grandmother who is in the later stages of Alzheimer’s, and I try to be everything for her; but I just can’t do it all. Say what you will, maybe I’m selfish to say it’s too much for me, but I’ve learned that it’s okay to focus on me now and again. After years of providing for my own family, balancing a career, and acting as the primary caregiver for my elderly grandmother, I’m burning out. Maybe taking a step back is selfish, but I also feel like it will be doing her a favor, because I’ll be better equipped to care for her.

From now on, when I feel stressed, I’m going to do something for me. If that means hiring a home caregiver who specializes in Alzheimer’s to take over for a week, while I hit the spa; I’m going to do it. Sometimes caring for someone you love who has Alzheimer’s is hard; my grandmother doesn’t necessarily realize how much she’s changing, but it can be hard not to take it personally when she doesn’t recognize me or attacks me emotionally because she’s in one of her moods that come with the disease. So that’s it, sometimes it’s got to be about me too; as much as I love my grandmother, I think it’s best for both of us. If selfish is the label that applies to me, then bring it on.

Sources:

1. Health and Age
2. ProQuest

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

When choosing a Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

With summer fast approaching, Rhode Island caregivers are looking for fun activities that get their seniors out of the house for a little bit of fresh air and entertainment. Coming up with these activities is never easy, and naturally a senior’s personal interests need to be taken into account; however, one great activity is flower arranging, and that’s an activity that not all caregivers would think of on their own. Seniors can get outside with their caregivers to cut fresh flowers from their own personal garden or a community garden (with permission of course), and then escape from the summer heat to arrange their flower picks. For those who don’t want to work with live flowers, silk flowers offer a great alternative. Seniors can get creative and elegantly arrange their flowers which they can appreciate everyday when they look at what they’ve created in their home.

Flower arranging can also be a great way for seniors to give back to their loved ones and the contribution that they make to their lives. While they may have a primary home caregiver, it’s nice to tell a family member how much they’re appreciated for what they do, and there’s nothing better than a homemade creation!

Sources:

1. Suite101
2. Associated Content

Image Source: www.poststat.net

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Families in Rhode Island all struggle with the decision of when it’s the right time to get help for an aging relative. No one wants to admit that someone they love is getting older, because that brings them face to face with the concept of mortality and the idea that the important person in their life might not be part of it for much longer. However, by suggesting home care when the time seems right, families can give their loved ones the benefit of safety and health in their own homes. There is no definite equation for when it’s the right time for home care, but some ideal situations can be used as signs that it might be time to start talking about it.

Situations when Home Care is Ideal

• Seniors who struggle with Activities of Daily Living – seniors who struggle with dressing, bathing, preparing meals, taking their medications, or keeping up with chores around the home are ideal candidates for in-home senior care

• Seniors with declining mobility – seniors who are having changes with their balance and mobility may be at a greater risk of falling or having an accident in the home when trying to perform ADLs . By hiring a caregiver, safety issues can be addressed and prevented through additional help

• Seniors who have had to give up driving – seniors who no longer drive for whatever reason, would greatly benefit from the help of a caregiver who can take them to run errands or to appointments

• Seniors who don’t have family nearby – seniors who have the above problems but do not have family nearby to help them can benefit from in home care when there’s no one else out there to help them

• Seniors who have come out of the hospital or rehab – after seniors have been released from the hospital or rehab program and are in recovery, it’s better for seniors to have the help of a caregiver so they don’t put too much of a burden on their bodies by trying to care for themselves or their homes

• Seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia – safety may be an issue for seniors who struggle with their memories

Sources:

1. Elder Issues

Image Source: Home Instead Senior Care

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

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 Rhode Island home. After retuning home from the hospital, Rhode Island 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 their 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

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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!

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Rhode Island families often ask what the benefits are of hiring a senior caregiver to provide home care in order to understand why they should do it. The benefits are endless, so the question really should be more, why shouldn’t you hire a senior caregiver? Hiring an in home caregiver gives seniors the option of remaining in their own homes, and maintaining some level of independence they might not otherwise have if they were to move to a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Home caregivers for seniors can also change the lives of family caregivers, who can find themselves devoting their lives and their time to care for a loved one. Family caregivers don’t need to give up their responsibilities, but with the help of a senior caregiver, can get the break that they need from someone who is able to allow a senior to maintain their chosen lifestyle, schedule and routines rather than have their world turned upside down just because they’re getting older.

Hiring a senior caregiver to help a loved one at home is about providing them the independence they deserve and allowing them to age with dignity while maintaining the way of life that they’ve chosen for themselves. Giving it all up would be too grave a loss, but with the option of home care, it doesn’t have to come to that for Rhode Island seniors.

Source:

1. Caring.com

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

One of the best ways that Rhode Island seniors can fend off stress, is to maintain a strong support network of close friends and family who they can go to when they feel stressed, or when they just need to relax and kick back. But maintaining a strong support network takes work too. Take the following test to determine if your senior is maintaining a strong support network, and if it’s serving its ultimate purpose of reducing stress and providing support.

• His/her support network provides a sense of belonging which reduces loneliness and stress

• His/her support network provides a sense of self-worth

• His/her support network provides security, because the individuals look out for the senior’s well-being

• There is regular communication with all friends and family members in the senior’s support network

• No member of the support network causes him/her additional, unneeded stress

• He/she tells the support network how much they’re appreciated, and these feelings and gestures are reciprocated

• Mutual support is provided by everyone in the support network; he/she expects support from friends and family, but provides the same courtesy by listening and providing support

Sources: www.sccgov.org

1. Mayo Clinic
2. The American Institute of Stress

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Everyone feels stress on occasion, but learning to cope with it using effective strategies is necessary to get over the hurdles. Here are some tried and true techniques, recommended by family caregivers on how they reduce their own stress and that experienced by their elderly care recipients in Rhode Island.

“I don’t allow myself to ever get overwhelmed by stress. When I encounter a situation that causes anxiety, I take a step back, and use deep breathing techniques learned from practicing yoga. While it’s not always possible to walk away from a stressful situation, especially when caring for an elderly loved one, by practicing this method of stress management, I find things don’t affect me as much”

- Marilyn, 58

“I find that my elderly mother is often plagued by anxiety, and with so much change and uncertainty in her life, I can’t blame her. I find the best cure for stress to help make sure my mother doesn’t become too overwhelmed is to keep her engaged in social activities. By connecting with friends and family, she staves off loneliness and has more positive feelings about stressful situations.”

- Sandra, 45

“When I started practicing yoga in Rhode Island when I reached middle age, I was initially reluctant because I no longer had the flexibility I had in my 20’s. After realizing just how beneficial the relaxation techniques and physical activity was for my stress level, I encouraged my elderly mother to give a senior yoga class a try. She had concerns about her level of physical fitness, just as I had; but with modified poses and supportive apparatuses to help with the exercise, she’s experiencing the benefits too!”

- Michelle, 52

Sources:

1. American Institute of Stress

2. About

Image: www.prlog.org

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.