In numerous studies and polls, seniors have said that they would rather stay in their own homes than move into a senior residence. But for some seniors, even with home care services, it becomes necessary to make the hard decision to leave their home behind for a different option that will provide for their needs as they age. Assisted living facilities offer seniors the best of both worlds with the following services and benefits:

1. Living independently – seniors in ALFs are often in one-bedroom or studio apartment buildings, so they have the privacy and independence that they require

2. Safety is offered – ALF apartments anticipate the safety needs of seniors and ensure that they include grab bars, ramps and other essential safety devices. Supervisors are always available to respond to emergencies

3. Seniors don’t need to worry about home maintenance – cleaning services, including laundry can be provided by ALF

4. Activity of daily living services are offered – bathing, dressing, and medication reminders can be provided. There are also special facilities for those who suffer with Alzheimer’s and dementia and designated services

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.

If a family member has asked you to move in with them, you were probably immediately met with mixed feelings. On one hand, you likely felt gratitude; happy that someone is willing to sacrifice for you and is worried about your care. But on the other hand, you probably felt a sense of looming regret that you’d have to give up your home and your independence. Living under one roof is an arrangement that does work for many intergenerational families, and for some it doesn’t. You decide if this is something that would work for you in your senior years, and during the process, make sure you ask these questions:

• What will my role be in paying for household expenses? Does it sound affordable and reasonable based on the living arrangements determined?

• What specific responsibilities will I have? Will I be expected to contribute to household chores or care for any of the grandchildren in the home? If so, how often and when?

• Will I be provided with my own space to maintain my independence? Will I have a room, or a bathroom that’s off limits to the rest of the family?

• What will become of my assets? How will we handle the sale of my home and finances I have in my bank accounts?

• Can I bring my pets to the home?

• Will changes be made to areas of the home to provide for my comfort and safety?

• Will I be a part of family decisions, such as vacations, travel, and hosting of events in the home? Or will the other family members make these decisions?

• Am I able to invite my friends to the home and entertain? What if I want to use the space without the grandchildren?

• What arrangements will be made if I need care assistance? Will someone in the home be able to help, or will we hire senior home care?

Via: Home Instead Senior Care

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.Myths About the Swine Flu and Vaccine

Hiring a senior caregiver for someone that’s important to you can be an extremely big responsibility. You want to make sure that your senior is in good hands every time that they’re with the caregiver and that means finding someone who will go above and beyond the call of duty. When you’re talking to prospective caregivers, ask them about their policies on procedures for the following areas, so you know that your loved one’s best interests will always be in the forefront:

1. Be aware of changes – seniors who are experiencing health changes, financial difficulty or other problems might begin to act differently. Often seniors who are experiencing problems might not be open about them due to embarrassment, but caregivers can speak with other family members if they notice anything unusual while spending time with their senior clients

2. Help address financial need – while it’s not a caregiver’s responsibility to pry into a senior’s finances, they can identify problems. If stacks of mail are piling up or collections calls are being received in the senior’s home, it’s possible bills aren’t getting paid. Again, a caregiver can approach this issue gently with the senior’s family, and suggest that a Power of Attorney be used if the issue appears to be that bad

3. Dispose of sensitive information – assist seniors by suggesting that they shred bills or other information that could compromise their safety

4. Know who is making healthcare decisions – caregivers should ensure that they have the contact information on hand for the family member or other individual for making these important decisions in case of a medical emergency

5. Suggest an advanced directive or living will – to help seniors secure their future wishes, suggest an advanced directive or living will so that their medical needs are fulfilled according to what they want

6. Determine how expenses will be paid – if the caregiver will be responsible for household purchases on behalf of the senior, it should be determined how this will be managed. Signed checks can be provided, seniors can open an expense account that the caregiver has access to, or if all expenses will be paid in cash provided

7. Be wary of strangers – caregivers should be wary of new friends that come into senior’s lives, especially if they are from a different generation. Seniors can become victims of scams because they are anxious to curb their loneliness with new social opportunities. With this in mind, caregivers should also work with seniors to investigate any charitable organizations or other causes seniors are thinking or donating to before a transaction is made

8. Provide a safe environment – in all circumstances, senior caregivers from a franchise should be responsible for identifying potential hazards in the household and ensuring that they are addressed to put their senior care recipient’s safety first.

Via: Keeping Seniors Safe

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.Myths About the Swine Flu and Vaccine

Q – My mom is about to retire and has been thinking about leaving her Dallas home to retire somewhere where she can relax and really appreciate her elder years. She doesn’t want to have anymore stress added to her life based on where she lives, can you provide suggestions on finding a stress-free place to retire?

A – The following are all elements that can contribute stress to seniors in retirement; here’s how your mom can find a city to retire in that shouldn’t add any additional stress to her life:

1. Population and crowding – consider the population density in the area is the more likely it becomes that there can be crime, petty problems between neighbors, and other factors that can influence your overall quality of life. If you’re looking for a quieter retreat where you can relax in privacy, avoid cities like Chicago (ranked the most stressful place to live) where crowding is high.

2. Employment – even in retirement, the level of unemployment in your area can affect your quality of life. You don’t need to be in the workforce for it to have an impact! Unemployment rates attest to the overall state of the economy.

3. Air quality and weather – the air quality can affect your overall health, which greatly impacts your quality of life, as well as your finances. Also choose a climate that brings you the most enjoyment.

4. Home values – with rising interest costs and decreasing home values, it can be a worry that you might lose your home in older adulthood or find it unaffordable. Low home values can also mean little equity when it comes time to sell. Choose a place to live where home values seem to be higher and holding strong.

Via: Yahoo! Real Estate

Image: gotoretirement.com

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

Q – I have thought about home care for my aging mother in Dallas; but how do I know when it’s the right time?

A – There is no cut and dry answer for when it’s right to bring home care into the life of a Dallas senior like your mother, but there are some life situations that seniors can encounter which makes home care ideal for them.  If your mother finds herself experiencing one or more of the following scenarios, then it may be time to consider home care for her.

• She’s struggling 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

• Her mobility is declining – 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

• She’s given 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

• She doesn’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

• She’s recently come out of 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

• She suffers from Alzheimer’s or dementia

Sources:

1. Elder Issues

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

When your senior is coming home after an extended stay in a Dallas hospital, nursing home or rehabilitation facility, the last thing they need to worry about is taking care of the mess they left behind when they left their homes in a rush, and while family members might be able to help, they naturally have more urgent concerns regarding the health of a loved one. So with everyone worrying about something, and no one worrying about the state of the home, how can families make sure that their seniors return to their Dallas homes in comfort where all they need to worry about is getting better?

Professional caregivers can come into a senior’s home, and help prepare it for a senior’s return from the hospital. They can take care of all of the light-housekeeping to ensure that the home is in order when the senior arrives. They can take care of cleaning out the fridge and pantries, washing any dirty dishes left behind, vacuum, change bed linens and even pick up fresh groceries. With this kind of help for seniors in their homes, all the elderly and their loved ones need to worry about is getting them better and back on their feet!

Sources:

1. Home Instead Senior Care

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

While there has been a long-standing misconception that the best place to provide care for a Dallas senior suffering from Alzheimer’s is in a nursing home or assisted living facility, the reality is that not only would these seniors prefer to stay in their own homes, they receive greater benefits by living in a familiar environment. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming, and require you to make sacrifices in your work and family life in order to keep up with the senior’s growing needs. However, there are other options available to help keep seniors with Alzheimer’s living with some level of independence in their own home environments.

Home Instead Senior Care offers home care services which can help seniors deal with the areas of daily living that they struggle with, or with tasks where safety may be an issue due to the Alzheimer’s or dementia. Caregivers can help seniors with dressing, cooking, cleaning and more to preserve their safety and ensure their needs are being met. For those seniors who are suffering from more advanced Alzheimer’s and dementia, Home Instead Senior Care even have caregivers that are trained to deal with the specific needs presented by someone with Alzheimer’s, so families can rest assured that their elderly loved ones are receiving the highest level of care available.

Sources:

1. Web MD

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

It’s not uncommon for family conflict to occur over elder care decisions. Dallas families are forced to choose what’s best for their aging loved one, and since everyone brings a different point of view to the table, this can often result in family conflict and even estrangement if the issues are allowed to continue, and the results can have serious effects upon the general well-being of the senior.

Reasons Families Experience Conflict over Senior Care

• The views of family members regarding what’s best for an aging parent may differ

• Siblings may disagree with the primary family caregiver’s decisions

• Family members may resent the role they play in senior care

• Family members may feel that responsibilities are unevenly distributed

So, how can families overcome these conflicts before it tears them apart and causes more stress to their aging parent? Families can consider using elder mediation by hiring a third party to assist them in moderating family meetings. By using an elder mediator, the following goals can be achieved

• Using a communications expert who specializes in elder mediation can help families who have a different perspective to the situation being discussed

• Meeting with a third party to moderate can help prevent disputes

• The mediator is able to provide additional resources in senior care, and may invite a geriatric care manager or home care specialist to provide a different perspective and specific insight into a topic of discussion

• Helps families lay out a care plan in writing, with the input of the senior parent and the elder mediator

Sources:

1. Plan for Care
2. Mayo Clinic

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

When hiring a new caregiver for an elderly loved one through a senior care agency ensure there is a trial period that allows the caregiver and senior to get to know each other without a firm commitment. Many Dallas senior care agencies will replace the caregiver at any time if he or she doesn’t meet expectations or mesh personality wise with the senior; however, since not all do, you want to ensure you can change your caregiver at no fault if the arrangement doesn’t work out.

When introducing a new caregiver to a senior and their home, ensure that guidelines of responsibilities are set based on the senior’s needs at the time; but . Also request that the agency complete an assessment; as eldercare professionals they may see additional areas of daily life that a senior needs help with and be open minded to their feedback.

Sometimes a senior can be invaded by a new presence in their home, whether it’s a family member or a professional caregiver, since it could be their first real loss of independence. Allow the relationship to grow by having the caregiver spend shorter periods of time with the senior at first and acting as a companion. As the senior becomes more comfortable, the caregiver can then take greater control over the household as appropriate.

Sources:
1.   Senior Care
2.    Ottawa.ca – Common Caregiver Questions

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

Easter can be fun for the whole family, whether you celebrate it for religious reasons or for the joy of the spring season. For many seniors, one of the most welcomed gifts would be to spend time with family; however, families can also show the senior’s in their lives how appreciated they are this Easter with fun Easter baskets, that fit the senior’s needs and interests and let them know their family is thinking of them. Easter gift ideas for seniors that can be included in a seasonal basket include:

•    Assistance with medical care – gift certificates for health stores and pharmacies to help them to pay for their medications and vitamins can be placed in an Easter basket to alleviate a senior’s costs.
•    Informative books and magazines – reading materials about senior lifestyle and healthy living might help them to reach their goals in their elderly years.
•    Pampering products – include products or gift certificates in the gift basket to allow seniors to relax and feel pampered. Purchase bubble baths, lotions or candles for their home or spa gift certificates.
•    Scrapbooking and photography – include a scrapbooking kit and family photos, or other craft items that a senior can complete with a family member, friend or caregiver.
•    Gardening kits and plants – provide a senior with gardening tools, plants or flowers to bring joy to their home.

Sources:
1.    Associated Content
2.    Ideamarketers

Images:  Montgomery Churches Website

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.