With many home care agencies, you never know who’s going to turn up on a Walnut Creek senior’s doorstep each day of their scheduled care. But what this means is that seniors never have the opportunity to trust, bond and form a friendship with their senior caregivers. At Home Instead Senior Care, we know that the right caregiver is one that a senior can get to know, begin to trust with their home and their care, and someone who will become an important companion. Every day a senior has home care scheduled, we send the same caregiver to provide consistency and because through our process we ensure that the caregiver sent is one that meshes with the senior’s personal needs and personality.

When we send a new caregiver to a senior’s home for the first time, we complete an in-depth assessment to evaluate the needs of the senior and the type of caregiver who would be best suited for the role. However, just because a senior has been sent a caregiver, doesn’t mean that they’re stuck with them forever. If a senior or their family is not satisfied with the caregiver, we will be happy to send a replacement that better meets the request.

Once the right caregiver has been matched with a senior, you’ll never be able to separate them!

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Q – I’m a home caregiver for a senior in Walnut Creek, I know she has been feeling discouraged lately as she is experiencing many of the changes that tend to come with aging, including declining mobility. I want to lift her spirits by bringing something fresh into the home, and thought that we could do this together through flower arranging. Not only will it be a fun activity for us to do together, it could also help improve her disposition when she’s at home, especially if she can take pride in what she’s created. What do I need to get us started?

A – Most of the flower arranging equipment that you will need to take up flower arranging with the senior that you provide care for can be found in garden centers, hardware stores, and florists throughout Walnut Creek. You will need florists foam to help shape your designs and support the flowers, florist’s prongs which help form the shape, florists’ mastic which helps stick the prongs to the container, loose supports like stones and marbles which also provide aesthetic appeal. Pin holders and wire netting are other ways to provide support to flower arrangement, and while you don’t necessarily need all items for one arrangement, having a selection will make sure you have the right materials at hand. Cutting tools such as disposable razors, florists’ scissors, kitchen knives, secateurs, and wire cutters will also be necessary items if you’re going to take up flower arranging with a senior.

Sources:

1. Suite101
2. Associated Content
3. Associated Content

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

With summer in full swing, Walnut Creek seniors are venturing outside to enjoy the nice weather. Many summer activities allow seniors to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, and interact with those that they are closest to. Whether it’s watching the grandchildren playing outside, taking a stroll to the park to feed the ducks, or enjoying a refreshing ice cream cone at the beach; seniors are taking advantage of the nice summer weather. Exposure to the sun can lift a senior’s spirits and allow them to interact with others while making the most of summer, but did you know that it also has direct benefits to their health? Recent studies have shown that Vitamin D, which can come from exposure to sunlight as well as through vitamin supplements, can actually increase bone health, preventing the likelihood of fractures in seniors aged 65 and older, and reducing the risk by as much as 20%.

There are a large number of benefits to seniors getting outside to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine in Walnut Creek, it’s also necessary that they protect themselves from the potentially detrimental effects of the sun, so their health is benefited rather than harmed.

• Seniors should expose themselves to direct sunlight only for short spurts, taking cover in between in shady areas

• Seniors should dress in loose, light clothing to allow maximum airflow, and keep a hat to protect their head from the sun

• Seniors should remain well hydrated with cold water, and other juicy snacks

• Physical exercise should be kept moderate on days with extreme heat

• Seniors should be aware of the signs of sun stroke or heat exhaustion, remove themselves from the sun, and seek medical attention if they don’t feel well due to sun exposure

• Seniors should remember their sunscreen!

Sources:

1. Health and Age
2. CBC
3. CBC

Image Source:pro.corbis.com

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

It’s never easy to watch someone you love getting older, but as a relative of a senior, often the responsibilities fall to you to decide when they need help. For the sake of your loved one, it’s important that you know when home care just might be right for them. Take the following checklist, and if your Walnut Creek senior meets any of the below criteria, it just might be the right time for senior home care.

• Your loved one is struggling with Activities of Daily Living  (dressing, bathling, preparing meals, taking medications, keeping up with chores at home)

• Your senior’s balance and mobility is declining, putting him/her at greater risk for in-home accidents.

• Your loved one has given up driving and finds it challenging to get to appointments and run errands.

• Your senior doesn’t have family nearby, or family members who are able to help them on a regular basis.

• Your loved one has recently come out of the hospital or rehab and needs to focus on recovering

• Your loved one’s memory is suffering because of Alzheimer’s or Dementia which could impact their ability to care for themselves safely.

Sources:

1. Elder Issues

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

When choosing a Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek 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

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

As a leading home care agency in Walnut Creek, one of the top questions that Home Instead Senior Care receives is if caregivers can help seniors out around the home. Many families worry about their aging senior’s ability to keep up with tasks and responsibilities at home, especially when a safety risk might be a consequence; but they don’t want their loved one to suffer from loss of independence by moving them out of their own home.

Fortunately for Walnut Creek families, Home Instead Senior Care provides a number of senior home care services, including help around the home. Our caregivers can assist seniors with light-housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, meal planning, grocery shopping and transportation to and from errands. In addition to the help around the home that our caregivers offer, they also provide assistance with personal care like bathing, dressing, and personal grooming. Our caregivers also provide companionship for the senior and bond with each and every one of their elderly clients to ensure that they feel comfortable, safe and happy with their home care situation.

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

How do you know when it’s time for your Walnut Creek senior to seek in home senior care help? While there are a number of ways that a professional caregiver can benefit seniors by helping them out around their Walnut Creek homes, there are some seniors that are prime candidates for care who can also benefit the most from the senior care services.

• 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: happyhippy.vox.com

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

Technologies on the market today have improved senior care and have allowed seniors to increase their independence while still maintaining their safety. Personal Emergency Response Systems are one innovative senior technology that improve the livelihood and lifestyle of Walnut Creek seniors by allowing them to remain living independently in their own homes, with the reassurance that help will always be on its way in the case of a medical emergency or accident. Many seniors fear that an accident or other medical issue will occur when they are home alone, and that there will be no one to get to them in time if they are unable to reach the phone to call for help. This fear, drives many seniors to sacrifice their independence to live in an assisted living facility or senior residence, however, with the benefits presented by Personal Emergency Response Systems, seniors can have their independence and live their chosen lifestyles without safety being sacrificed.

Benefits of Personal Emergency Response Systems

• No matter where Walnut Creek seniors are, they can activate the device in the case of a medical emergency or accident

• Personal Emergency Response systems remain on the senior at all times, so it’s never an issue of the phone remaining out of reach

• Family members and caregivers can be confident that seniors are safe, even when living alone, because help is always immediately available

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

Image: www.seniorspecialists.org

Q – Does stress make the body vulnerable to diseases and illnesses? Is it possible that stress is to blame for my diabetes?

A – There is a chance that stress could be responsible for your diabetes, as there is a direct correlation that can put Walnut Creek seniors at risk for the disease. Naturally, when you are stressed, your blood sugar levels rise. While in most cases, people who do not have diabetes have mechanisms to get blood sugar levels back under control, those who are diabetic may not which can cause the onset of diabetes symptoms. While stress is unlikely to directly cause diabetes, it can cause the illness to be discovered. Stress can also have serious health effects for someone suffering from diabetes since blood sugar levels rise which can result in symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, confusion, problems forming words.

Prolonged elevated blood pressure can also result in heart disease. Particularly during times of extreme stress, seniors should be aware of these family conditions which can be further aggravated by stress and have their risk assessed by a doctor.

Sources:

1. Medical News Today

2. Medicine Online

3. The American Institute of Stress

Image: Image: www.gettyimages.com

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

As my mom in Walnut Creek struggles with the loss of her financial stability, due to rising interest rates resulting from the financial crisis; she has also come face to face with another very scary reality. While she might find the strength and the resources to overcome the economic recession, we might not be able to say the same for her health. As the economy continues to go down the toilet, the weight on my mother’s shoulders is rapidly increasing and taking a direct toll on her health. My once vibrant and full of life mother has found that not only is this financial crisis costing her money; but it could also cost her, her life. With her weakened immune system and history of cardiovascular problems, my mother is at risk for more than just depression and anxiety; she could also face a heart attack, stroke, hypertension, or the onset of another potentially fatal disease.

But I don’t believe that it’s too late; I won’t let my mother just lay down and die as a result of this economic recession. Through diet, exercise, and encouragement in activities she once enjoyed, I’m trying to get my mother to take back her life in Walnut Creek and her health; even if she’s not able to take control over the affect the economy is having on her financial stability.

Sources:

1. The American Institute of Stress

2. The Mayo Clinic

Image: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.