11.09.09

Tips For Avoiding Caregiver Burnout

Posted in Elder Care at 3:00 pm by admin

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10.07.09

The Cost of Respite Care

Posted in Elder Care, Home Health Care at 3:39 pm by admin

When choosing a Respite Care service, there are many considerations to
take into account. Here are 3 important ones:

What level of service does my loved one need?
How many hours per day do I need a Respite Care service?
How much will the service cost?


If you prefer your loved one to be cared for at home, you need to
decide whether you need a Nurse, a Home Health Aid or a Companion.

Nurses are, of course, trained and ready to help your loved one deal
with all of the issues that arise from living with illnesses. In
addition to helping with bathing and dressing issues, they can
administer medication and act in precisely the same ways Nurses in a
health facility could. They generally cost upwards of $25 per hour.

Home Health Aids are often Certified Nursing Assistants, trained to
provide many of the same services offered at nursing facilities. They
can help your loved one dress, walk around the house, bathe, take
medication, etc. Home Health Aids are ideal for seniors who are
currently battling illnesses and need basic health care assistance.
You can expect to pay between $20 and $25 per hour for their services.

Companions, on the other hand, are better for seniors who need
supervision but are not sick or too feeble. They are not trained to
give basic aid in activities like bathing or dressing. Companions, who
are sometimes called Homemakers, are ideal for Alzheimer’s patients
who need conversation and supervision, as well as a hand in making
lunch and taking walks. You can expect to pay them between $15 and $25 per hour.


The costs for home respite care can add up quickly. The out-of-pocket
costs could easily reach $200 per day for even basic services. If you
just need a break for a few hours, this is a fine option. Otherwise,
you would be wise to consider an Adult Day Service.

Adult Day Services (often called “Adult Day Care”) are generally far
less expensive, costing around $65 per day on average. These services
are generally open all day Monday through Friday, offering care for
many different patients in a community-rich environment. These
facilities are common for Alzheimer’s patients, and seniors who are
sick but not immobilized. The staff will almost always include
Registered Nurses and all kinds of aids who together are well equipped
to handle bathing, dressing, and all kinds of medical needs. And best
of all, the staff and patients should provide plenty of companionship.
There are around 4000 Adult Day Care facilities in the United States.

Despite the benefits, most people prefer Home Care. This is probably
because Medicare usually covers at least part of the cost of home
health care but usually does not cover adult day care. The type of
care, of course, is the determining factor. Before making any
decisions be sure to visit Medicare’s website or talk to an advisor.

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01.19.09

Finding Elderly Care In My Area

Posted in Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Assisted Living Referral Service, Assisted Living Safety, Caregiver, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Nursing home, Nursing home alternative, Senior Citizen, Taking Care of a Loved One, Texas Elderly Care Services at 12:03 am by admin

Finding elderly care in your area is quite difficult because facilities can be deceiving. When you arrive at an elderly care facility try to look past the fancy looking lobby and dining room chandelier. Watch how the workers are treating the residents, what kind of food is being served, and ask many questions about the care packages that they offer (bring a copy of our chart off our blog titled “Elderly Care Facilities Choice and Comparison”). Write down what they promise and keep any brochures. If you find an elderly care facility that seems to be what you are looking for, you can request a copy of the state inspection from D.A.D.S. (Department of Aging and Disability Services). According to chapter 552 of the Texas Government code you can request certain records as they should be open to the public. Also when looking for an elderly care facility for a loved one keep his or her interests in mind. Does he or she have a friend that lives at a nearby facility? Does he or she like gardens or activities? Does he or she want you to be close by to visit often? Good luck on your search for the right elderly care.

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12.18.08

Houston Elder Care Business Directory

Posted in Advertising, Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Assisted Living Referral Service, Dialysis Assisted Living, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Home Health Care, Marketing, Nursing home, Texas Elderly Care Services, care at home at 2:32 pm by admin

We have a comprehensive list of all the Houston elder care businesses and elder care services, and elderly care facilities in the Harric County and Fort Bend county areas. You can search by keyword in the elderly care directory below to find the type of elder care facility you are looking for. For instance, Assisted Living Type A facilities are for elderly people that can still take care of most of their daily needs and routines but would like the convenience of laundry service, meals, house cleaning, and activities. The type of facilities get progressively more specific like alzheimers care facilities, nursing homes, kidney dialysis assisted living in Houston and more. Browse or search our directory below.

Houston Elder Care Directory

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12.17.08

Comprehensive List of Tyler Texas Elder Care Businesses

Posted in Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Atria Copeland, Atria Senior Living, Atria Willow Park, Azalea Trails, Elder Care, Elderly Care at 3:29 pm by admin

This is a comprehensive list of all elder care facilities in the Tyler Texas area. Below you will find home care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices, and several other elder care businesses. If you have a business or know of a business that is not on this list please let us know so we can update the list with your elder care business, facility, nursing home, or other related elderly business service.

Tyler Texas Elder Care Directory

Search by name of facility or service, browse, or comment to add a new listing.

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08.29.08

Facing Death

Posted in Caregiver, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Home Health Care, Nursing home, Taking Care of a Loved One at 11:00 am by admin

Facing Death is a fearful thing and it is important that the family and friends are around. If you have a loved one that is facing death be there for that person. Don’t withdraw yourself. Talk to him or her no matter how fearful or awkward it is. Even if it appears that he doesn’t understand you. Keep him comfortable. He may need help turning in bed and getting comfortable. Help him. Don’t leave him alone unless he is getting overwhelmed with visitors. Give him a chance to say what he wants to say. Tell him what you need to tell him, whether it’s getting something off your chest or sharing God’s love and salvation with him. No matter how long he has been in your life if you have not shared Christ with him now is the time. Do it before it is too late.

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07.28.08

Hidden Camera

Posted in Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Assisted Living Safety, Caregiver, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Nursing home, Nursing home alternative, Senior Citizen, Taking Care of a Loved One, Texas Elderly Care Services at 1:01 pm by admin

So you put your parent in an assisted living facility. You purchase a care package that provides the amount of care that your parent needs. You see your parent quickly declining and you wonder if the facility is providing the care they say they are. You can be sure of it with a hidden camera. You can purchase a nanny camera then set it up at the far wall of your parents room facing the door. You can watch the tapes and see how often a care taker enters the room and how long they stay.

If you can’t afford a nanny camera, you can show up unannounced to visit your parent and look around the room for dirty clothes, see if the bed is fixed, check the soap in the shower and depends to make sure they are being used up. Keep the assisted living facility in check. You purchased a care package and they must provide it, no excuses.

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06.23.08

Vacationing with Elderly Parents

Posted in Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Assisted Living Safety, Caregiver, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Nursing home alternative, Senior Citizen, Senior Citizen Fathers, Taking Care of a Loved One, Texas Elderly Care Services at 11:20 am by admin

Work is getting overwhelming and you are looking forward to a vacation. You start surfing the web for great vacation spots. But wait don’t forget about mom! Your parents could very well need a vacation too. Your parent’s needs might have changed over this past year making it seem impossible for them to go on a vacation. Plus it may not be a very relaxing time for you if it’s a full time job to care for your parents. But think about this, many people hire a nanny when they go on a vacation to help with their kids. Hiring someone to care for your parent on a vacation is not much different and may be a good option. Also there are assited living facilities that can accommodate your parent for short periods of time such as a vacation. Say for instance you are going to San Antonio. You could book a room at an assisted living facility for the week for your parents nearby where you are staying (there are many assisted living facilities in San Antonio) and pick them up when you are going site seeing, out to eat, or boating on the river. They would certainly enjoy that.

Make Sure Your Parents Needs are Met

If you are hiring a care taker for the trip remember to stay at places that are handicap accessible to make it easier for your parent. If you are booking a room at an assisted living facility be sure that they know your parent’s needs.

Have a good and safe vacation!

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05.29.08

Moving Matters

Posted in Alzheimer's Disease, Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Assisted Living Referral Service, Assisted Living Safety, Caregiver, Depression, Dimentia, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Home Health Care, Nursing home, Nursing home alternative, Senior Citizen, Taking Care of a Loved One, Texas Elderly Care Services, care at home, dementia, forgetting to take medication at 6:05 pm by admin

Do your mother and/or father need to be moved from home to an assisted living? Do they need to be moved from an assisted living to a nursing home? Or are they at a facility that you are not happy with? Moving your parents can be the best thing that you can do for them, but it can also be the worst thing.

Moving is a dramatic change for an elderly person, especially one with Alzheimer’s disease. A move from home to a nursing home may be the best option but look into getting care at home. Moving can confuse and depress an elderly person. If your mother or father is able to, let him or her be a part of the decision.

When an elderly person is familiar with a facility or the staff at one assisted living or nursing home it’s usually best to keep him there. An elderly person is more likely to willingly receive care and feel comfortable with care attendants and nurses that he or she knows as opposed to a stranger. Also when elderly people are familiar with a facility, such as knowing where the dining room, medicine, activities, and their apartment is, they are usually emotionally stable longer than if they are moved from facility to facility and getting disoriented and confused.

However, when you see your loved one needing more care than what the facility gives, you need to act quickly. There are nurses that come to where your parent is and give care to him. Some facilities have care packages that start at minimal care (such as reminders to come to meals and take medicine) and maximum care packages (such as bathing, transferring from bed to wheelchair and feeding). If the facility that your loved one is does not offer more care and getting a nurse to come and care for him or her is not an option you should not leave him or her there, moving would be a must in that situation.


If your parents are at a facility and you are not happy with the care that they are receiving, talk to the management about your complaints. They may not be aware that your parent is being neglected. Also talk with the care staff and let them know that you care about your parents and want the best care for them. Politely tell the care staff your complaints (i.e. moms hair needs to be brushed, I noticed dad lost his dentures). Visit your parents often. Keep the care staff accountable by making visits at different times of the day or maybe spend a night there if possible. If the quality of care still does not improve make a complaint to DADS (Department of Aging and Disabilities Services) and move your parents to a more quality facility.

Most importantly make sure your parent is taken good care of and is happy.

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Lite-Up Texas

Posted in Assisted Living, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Nursing home, Retirement, Senior Citizen, Taking Care of a Loved One, Texas Elderly Care Services, care at home at 2:00 pm by admin

Lite-Up Texas is a government service that helps low income citizens or those on Medicaid reduce their electric bill. If you are currently receiving Medicaid, food stamps, or if your household income is 125% below the federal poverty guidelines (i.e. $13,000 for 1 resident, $17,500 for 2) then you qualify to receive the Lite-Up Texas discounts.


Many elderly citizens choose Lite-Up Texas to help them get through the costly monthly summer electric bills. With Lite-Up Texas you still have a choice to pick from any electric provider if you are in a deregulated county. So you don’t have to switch electric providers if you do not wish to or you can switch to a low cost electric provider and still get a discount with Lite-Up Texas.

With electric prices on the rise choosing Lite-Up Texas is not a bad idea for you or your loved one. Stay cool and have an affordable summer!

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