Home Health Care in Annandale VA: Downsizing Senior’s Belongings

Use these tips to help start downsizing your parent’s belongings on National Give Something Away Day:

• • Talk with your parent about the items they have already decided to pass on to members of the family. Make a record of these items if your parent does not have a will, and consider marking them in a subtle way, such as putting a piece of colored tape in an inconspicuous area of furniture.

• • Encourage your senior to give a living legacy rather than waiting a for family members and friends to inherit items. By giving them these items now, your parents will be able to explain to the person that the significance of the item and why they gave it to them, and enjoy the reaction of the recipient, while also making the beneficial step of streamlining their own home

• • Talk to your aging parents about the various charitable organizations in your area that could benefit from the items they have in they are home. Traditional organizations such as Goodwill and Salvation Army are always an option, but your parent may be more drawn to smaller organizations such as shelters. For example, women’s shelters always benefit from clothing, while animal shelters can use old blankets and towels

• • Contact local organizations to find out if they are capable of picking up large donations such as furniture, appliances, unused cars, and more. Making getting these items out of the home simpler can make it easier for your parents to give them away

• • When going through items, put those items your parent is willing to part with in a box and get it out of the home as quickly as possible. This is particularly important for those who may be dealing with a cognitive functioning decline and are likely to go back through the boxes to take the items out after organization.

Senior care can be a valuable addition to your aging parent’s life at a variety of stages. It is a common misconception that this type of care is only beneficial for those who are very elderly, or who are dealing with extensive limitations. While the personalized services of a senior home care services provider can be highly beneficial for those individuals, this type of care can also greatly enhance your senior’s life even if they are still largely independent, and only have some mild to moderate challenges.

A care provider can step in to help your parent deal with issues such as no longer being able to drive on their own, dealing with low vision or hearing loss, mobility difficulties, or even need for more social interaction. This allows your parent to live their highest quality of life now, and as they experience further changes and challenges in their later years.

If you or a loved-one are considering Home Health Care in Annandale, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC.  Call today 703-910-7081

Homecare in Leesburg VA: Senior Bathroom Safety

Opt for Hand Rails that Match Other Fixtures as Closely as Possible

One reason that your stylish senior might avoid installing or using grab bars is that they might not go with the rest of the aesthetic she’s got going on in her bathroom. It might seem obvious that safety is more important, but you can find handrails in a lot of different styles now. Look for one that will blend in better with your senior’s bathroom fixtures and she’s more likely to let you install them everywhere that makes sense.

Put Shampoo and Soap into Wall Dispensers

Shampoo, conditioner, and even soap can become a big hazard in the bathroom. Not only are the products themselves slippery, but wrestling with bottles, jars, and other types of containers can get to be a little bit much. Look for wall dispensers that you can install in the shower and near the sink to contain those products safely. Your senior can dispense the right product easily without having to worry about dropping anything.

Affix Non-slip Backings to Rugs

Your senior may love the rugs and other floor coverings in her bathroom because they look great, but to you, they might look like a huge fall risk. You might be able to compromise if you’re able to attach a non-slip backing to the underside of the rugs. This allows the floor covering to be a little bit more secure but again preserves the aesthetic your senior wants.

Install a Removable Shower Head with a Long Handle

Whether your elderly family member is finding bathing a little more difficult or you’re helping her more in the shower, it might be time to replace that stationary shower head. Using one with a long cord and handle gives you and your senior better maneuverability while also allowing for more stability in the tub. These are also excellent if your senior has started to use a shower chair or bench.

If you’re not sure what else might help your senior’s bathroom to be a little safer, consider asking senior care providers for some extra help. They’ve got a lot of experience in helping aging adults to age in place safely without giving up more than they are prepared to give.

If you or a loved-one are considering Homecare in Leesburg, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC.  Call today 703-910-7081.

Elder Care in Fairfax VA: Rainy Day Activities

#1 Break Out a Board Game

Board games are an excellent way to pass the time. Pull out old classics like Monopoly, checkers, chess, Yahtzee, or Parchisi. Most people know how to play them, so anyone who is with the senior can join in, including their elderly care provider. In addition to busting boredom, research has also indicated that older adults who play games have a 15% less chance of developing dementia.

#2 Crack Open a Good Book

Reading a book is a good way to relax and keep the brain active at the same time. A study conducted at the University of Sussex indicated that reading reduces stress levels by 68 percent. If the senior has trouble reading because of vision problems, an elderly care provider can read to them.

#3 Make Something

Crafts give older adults a creative outlet and keep their fingers busy. Anyone can craft, you just have to find what piques the senior’s interest. Try upcycling household items, such as turning an old container into a decorative vase or coin bank. Elderly care providers can help seniors with crafts by assisting them to gather supplies. They can also do parts of the craft that are difficult for the senior, such as threading a needle or manipulating small pieces.

#4 Watch a Movie

Pop in a good DVD or choose a movie from a streaming service. Then, make a healthy snack and let the older adult sit back and enjoy the show. An elderly care provider can prepare the snack and help set up the movie.

#5 Catch Up with Friends and Family

A rainy day is a good opportunity for the senior to spend some time catching up with the people they love. They can send emails, write letters or cards, or make phone calls. Elderly care providers can help those with low vision by typing or writing for the senior.

If you or a loved-one are considering Elder Care in Fairfax, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC.  Call today 703-910-7081.

Sources
Blog.arthritis.org
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
telegraph.co.uk

Senior Care in Fairfax VA: Surgery Aftercare

Post-Op Behavior is Important for Recovery

There are many reasons why an elderly person might need to have surgery. Some of the most common are hip or knee replacements, varicose veins, inserting devices like pacemakers, removing cancerous or non-cancerous tumors, taking out infected tissue, and routine surgeries such as for cataracts. Family members are usually part of the support leading up to the surgery and even for the day of the surgery. It’s the days and weeks that are after the surgery that make a real difference to recovery.

During the time after returning home from surgery, seniors must abide by the doctor’s orders for treatment and recovery. Usually, post-op patients need to take medicine and avoid sitting around all day. If they don’t get up and move a little, they could develop bed sores, nerve damage or blood clots in the legs. Post-surgery seniors will also be unable to do a lot of things for themselves, such as pick up prescriptions and medications, shop for groceries, prepare meals, bathe, dress and clean the house. If your aging mom or dad is unable to do all these things, their recovery could be in jeopardy.

Home Care Aides Bring Peace of Mind

Post-operative assistance for elderly adults can mean the difference between a fast and full recovery and one that is slow and full of complications and setbacks. Many family members find that hiring a home care assistant is the best way for their aging relative to have their needs met while they are in the recovery phase. As much as you might want to be around to help your elderly parent for the six to eight weeks after a surgery, your other responsibilities will certainly get in the way.

Hiring a home care assistant for an elderly adult recovering from surgery can bring peace of mind for both family members and the elderly patient. It can be very challenging for a senior to keep track of all the medicine they need, as well as what doses and when to take them. They may need assistance with daily care tasks like bathing, dressing, and toileting. It’s important that they get up and walk around several times per day according to the doctor’s recommendation.

If you are worried about your elderly parent making a full and complete recovery after a surgery, look into hiring in-home care services Being cared for by a professional home care aide allows elderly adults to focus on recovering instead of worrying about taking care of themselves.

If you or a loved-one are considering Senior Care in Fairfax, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC.  Call today 703-910-7081.

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3073675/

Elder Care in Alexandria VA: Caregiver Fears

Small Fears Can Be Helpful

Smaller fears can help to keep you alert, especially when they’re reasonable. For example, you might be afraid that your senior could fall. So you go through her house and eliminate tripping hazards that could make her fall. That’s a fear that helps you to do something positive. Other fears are less reasonable and are usually so big that you can’t do much to alleviate or remove those fears.

Evaluate Whether Your Fears Are Reasonable or Not

If you’re dealing with a lot of different fears, take some time and write them out in a list. Everything that comes to mind, jot it down. Some of those fears may strike you immediately as reasonable, while others might be just as quickly recognizable as something you can’t do much about. Put each fear in one of the two categories.

Use a “What If” Exercise

Take one of your larger and less reasonable fears and try a “what if” exercise with it. This means that you’re going to ask yourself what if the situation you’re afraid of happens. Keep going. Each time that you get to another conclusion that feels like a stopping point, ask what if that happens. You might realize a few things after doing this activity. First, you might find that you do have valid solutions to this problem. More common is that you might realize that these fears are extremely unlikely to happen at all because the reality is quite different.

Set up Contingency Plans

For the reasonable fears, it’s time to put some contingency plans in motion. “What if” exercises can help you do this, too. For example, if you’re concerned about taking time away from your senior because you’re convinced something will go wrong, then it’s a good idea to hire elder care providers to take over for you. Find backups for your backups so that you’ve always got a person and a plan on which to rely.

Talk to Someone if You Need More Help

Setting some of these bigger fears aside can be really difficult. If you need more help with that, look for a counselor or therapist who can help you to work through those feelings. Leaving them alone can cause them to become even bigger, which can interfere with being a caregiver.

If you’re constantly afraid of what might happen or what has happened in the past, you can’t be an effective caregiver. Fear shuts everything down and keeps you from having the clear head that you need in order to make solid decisions for your elderly family member.

If you or a loved-one are considering Elder Care in Alexandria, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC.  Call today 703-910-7081.

Elderly Care Leesburg VA: Caregiver Tips

Talk with Your Loved One and Her Doctor

You’ve just found out that there’s a need for extra care, so it’s time to sort out what that means. Talk to your aging family member, if you’re able to do so, as well as her doctor. Determining what’s going on now and what’s likely to happen down the line gives you a lot of information that you’ll need to develop a care plan for your senior.

Form a Team of Other Family Members

If your senior has other family members in the area, figure out which of them are able to help out with her care. They may not be able to devote as much time and energy to the task as you can, but they can help you to carry some of the load. Even if they can only help a little bit now, don’t get discouraged. Remember that situations and plans do change and they may be able to help more down the line.

Develop a Plan

With what you know about your senior’s needs and her future health, as well as your current care team status, you can start to put a plan together. Having a plan for who takes care of what and how your senior’s needs are going to get met allows you to keep everyone informed. It also establishes a routine that helps you to meet the other obligations in your life.

Find a Support System for Yourself

No matter how much other help you have, you need your own support system. This might mean attending a support group meeting for other caregivers once a week or it might mean leaning on home care providers as you learn more about caring for your aging adult. There’s nothing wrong with getting as much help together as you possibly can.

Remember to reevaluate your plans regularly and see what’s working and what isn’t. This helps you to ensure that you’re meeting changing needs as well as you can.

If you or a loved-one are considering elderly care in Leesburg, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC.  Call today 703-910-7081.

Home Care Services in Fairfax VA: Caregiver Tips

Here are tips for staying positive when you simply do not feel positive.

Vent Your Frustrations With Your Siblings

Talk to your siblings about the current situation. If you’re not happy with the way things are going, tell them. See if the schedules can be rearranged so that you get extra time off. You may decide that the arrangement doesn’t work and that elderly care services are needed to make sure your dad gets the quality care he needs.

Sign Up for a Caregiver’s Support Group

Surrounding yourself with others who have been in your shoes will help. Join a support group where you can discuss your frustrations and get help from others. There are general caregiver support groups and specialized ones for specific diseases. If your dad has Alzheimer’s, look for a support group for Alzheimer’s caregiver. If he has cancer, look for a cancer caregiving support group.

Do Something That Makes You Feel Good

One of the easiest ways to stay positive is by doing something that makes you feel good. If you love seeing someone smile after getting a surprise, anonymously pay for someone’s coffee at the local coffee shop and then sit back and watch that person’s face. Cook your dad’s neighbor a dozen cookies or bring him his favorite lunch.

Turn on Music and Dance

Even if you have no sense of rhythm, put on some dance music and dance off your frustration. It’s a good way to expend stress. Your dad can join you if his mobility doesn’t limit his movements. If he can’t get up, he can dance along in his chair.

Enlist Help for Your Own Respite

You’ll need regular breaks if you’re going to keep a positive attitude. If your sibling’s schedule doesn’t match up to times when you could join friends or go out with your significant other, look into professional caregivers.

Elderly care services cover respite. Get out for an hour or two with the help of a caregiver. When you return, you’ll be refreshed and ready to provide your dad’s care.

If a short break isn’t enough, look into elderly care for longer breaks. Leave your dad with a caregiver for a whole day while you relax, unwind, and get back to a positive frame of mind. Call today to learn more about taking a break from family caregiving.

If you or a loved-one are considering hiring home care services in Fairfax, VA, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC.  Call today 703-910-7081.