10.07.09
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 Careâ€) 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.
Permalink
12.18.08
Posted in Advertising, Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Assisted Living Referral Service, care at home, Dialysis Assisted Living, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Home Health Care, Marketing, Nursing home, Texas Elderly Care Services 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
Permalink
08.29.08
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.
Permalink
05.29.08
Posted in Alzheimer's Disease, Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Assisted Living Referral Service, Assisted Living Safety, care at home, Caregiver, dementia, Depression, Dimentia, Elder Care, Elderly Care, forgetting to take medication, Home Health Care, Nursing home, Nursing home alternative, Senior Citizen, Taking Care of a Loved One, Texas Elderly Care Services 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.
Permalink
02.28.08
Posted in Assisted Living, Caregiver, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Home Health Care, Nursing home, Nursing home alternative, Senior Citizen, Taking Care of a Loved One, Texas Elderly Care Services at 11:21 am by admin
Spring is coming right around the corner; with that said make sure your loved one has a variety of clothes fit for the weather. Be sure to leave some long sleeves and jackets for those chilly days. The warm weather will be here shortly and mom and dad don’t need to get over heated so change out their wardrobe. Take mom out to get a new spring dress for Easter. She’ll like that.
Permalink
Posted in Alzheimer's Disease, arthritis, Assisted Living, Caregiver, dementia, Depression, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Home Health Care, Nursing home, Senior Citizen, Taking Care of a Loved One, Texas Elderly Care Services at 10:45 am by admin
This morning the sunrise looked like sunshine was gently stroked with a paintbrush onto the pale blue and pink sky. There’s something therapeutic about sunshine. I believe that it helps calm and uplift a person to a degree. When a baby is born the doctor tells the mother to sun bathe the baby by bringing the infant in direct sunlight for a few minutes to half an hour. Everyone, not just babies, could use some sunlight. The elderly however aren’t able to get out much and maybe don’t have a good view out the window. Not getting sunlight may be a factor of depression. Statistics have shown that there are more suicides in places that don’t get much sunlight such as Alaska’s winters. So if your loved one is battling depressing from alzheimer’s or has been cooped up for too long take them out for a walk and a picnic. Your loved one will enjoy your company as well as the fresh air and sunshine.
Permalink
02.23.08
Posted in Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Assisted Living Safety, Caregiver, Depression, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Home Health Care, medication, Nursing home, Nursing home alternative, Taking Care of a Loved One, Texas Elderly Care Services, Uncategorized at 4:05 pm by admin
Staff members, even when there is a good ratio of staff and residents, can get overwhelmed with their jobs. If you are a care worker communicate with your coworkers and employer any concerns you might have with your job. Also encourage other care workers that work along side of you. It’s not a one man show. Communication doesn’t just mean complaints or demands. Comunicate with your coworkers when there is a shift change. When you come in to work ask if there are any new duties (i.e. Mr. Williams doctor prescribed him some new medication that he needs to be reminded of before he goes to bed, or Ms. Johnson had a fall and needs her dinner brought to her room). When leaving your shift make sure you don’t leave a job half done and make the next shift aware of any changes. Always look into someone’s eyes when he/she is speaking and repeat back what has been communicated so that it is understood. If we would communicate, work together and everyone do their part there would be a lower turn over in care staff.
 If a fellow care worker calls in sick do not become angry and wonder if he/she is faking but at the same time voice to your employer that you can’t always “pick up the slack”. There should be a call-in care worker for such cases. There is no reason that you should have to continue to work double shifts. There may be emergency cases that you will have to work a double shift. On the other hand if you are sick you should give as much notice as possible to your employer. Do not come to work as a care attendant/CNA sick. You cannot be caring for the elderly that have low immune systems when you are contageous.
Be honest and encouraging to your co-workers.
“his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.”Â
 -I Corinthians 3:13
Permalink
09.28.07
Posted in Alzheimer's Disease, Assisted Living, care at home, Caregiver, Dimentia, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Home Health Care, Nursing home, Nursing home alternative, Senior Citizen, Senior Citizen Fathers, Taking Care of a Loved One at 3:29 pm by admin
When illness turns family members into caregivers there is often strong emotional experiences that the caregiver goes through.
Sadness: It is disturbing to see a loved one rendered physically helpless, particularly if the injury had a sudden onset. But the advent of cognitive deficits, causing changes in the patients personality and behavior, are generally found by researchers to be far more wrenching for families. When even so simple a task for the caregiver as sharing the events of one’s day and being understood is precluding by a patients dimentia, the loss of companionship is profound. Decreases in functioning, especially intellectual capacity, will often force patients who were working to retire, creating economical hardships for the family. When other family members shift to shoulder the bread-winning burden while also assisting the patient more at home with daily activities, they suffer dramamtically increased workloads and drastically reduced personal time. Some caregivers find relief in tears and take solace from sharing their mornful feelings with others who respond understandingly. Many caregivers however feel uncomfortable about expressing sadness and shame. They typicallycite several objections: 1-”I don’t want to feel sad because it will make me depressed.” 2-”I don’t want to express sadness because other people will think that I’m weak.” 3-”What do I have to feel sad about when I’m not the one who is disabled?” or 4-”I’m afraid that if I express sadness, it will make my loved one feel worse.” Generally though empathizing with the caregiver’s sadness is one of the most effective ways that a patient can give back something meaningful to the person who has made sacrifices on his behalf. When a caregiver is willing to take the risk of expressing sadness to a loved one in a non-blaming way, it most often results in a greater feeling of comunion or shared mission between the two that helps them both feel better understood and supported.
 Anger: Caregiver anger depends mostly on the relationship between the patient and the caregiver before the illness. At its simplest, it takes the form of blaming the patient for bringing the tragedy upon the family. The sting of being unjustly trapped often lies at the root of anger. Sometimes the anger isn’t toward the patient but at God. Anger must be dealt with promptly or it will turn into bitterness.
Worry: Every family member of one who is suffering worries. But a caregiver must be careful not to worry him or herself too much or he/she will get burned out.
Guilt: Many family members feel guilty that their loved ones have become ill as if it is their fault. A family member might feel guilty that he or she hasn’t visited a loved one in the nursing home. Also there may be guilt because a relationship went soar before the illness took place. It is never too late to love. Visit that family member in the nursing home. Start talking and praying for him or her.
Permalink
09.18.07
Posted in Alzheimer's Disease, Assisted Living, Assisted Living Safety, Bathing, dementia, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Home Health Care, Nursing home, Texas Elderly Care Services at 3:21 pm by admin
Bathing is a particular sensitive issue for persons with dementia. Those with dementia become confused easily and often misinterpret what others are doing and saying. In such individuals, often even the smallest thing that is unpleasent such as water in the eyes or ears can make the individual respond with fear or violence.
A guideline for bathing without a battle:
-Focus on the person more than the task.
Try to meet individual preferences and focus on the well-being of the person. Always protect the persons privacy and dignity (such as covering the person with a towel after turning off the water and in transfers)
-Be flexible!
Modify your approach to meet the persons needs. Methods such as singing and talking with the individual while bathing can distract him or her from the fear, anxiety or shame of being bathed by someone else. Be flexible with the procedure divide up tasks such as washing hair and washing the body.
-Use persuasion,not coercion.
Help the person feel in control at bathing time. Give choices and respond to individual requests. Avoid asking “Do you want to take a bath?” when you know that the answer will be “no”. Instead say something like”It’s time for your spa, would you like body wash or a bar of soap? Would you like to wear the green and tan outfit or the blue one?” Use a supportive and calm approach and praise the person often. Ask questions that are not exasperating or that have maybe two or three answers. Sometimes questions with endless possibilities can overwhelm a person with dementia such as “what do you want to wear?” narrow the question down to 2 or 3 possibilities.
-Be prepared!
Gather everything that you will need for bathing before approaching the person. Warm the room (no one has a good expeirence bathing when they are cold and wet). Have towels, washcloths, and clothes ready. Get shower chair and bath mat securely in place.
-Stop.
When a person becomes distressed, stop and assess the situation. It is not “normal” for a person to cry moan, or fight during bathing. Look for underlying reason for the behavior. What can you do to prevent the person from becoming more upset? If you are unable to calm the person you will need to shorten the bath. In such a case wash only what is necessary for good health. If the person becomes too distressed or aggressive you will need to end the bath. Try to end with something pleasant such as offering a cup of coffee or a back rub. This may make it easier when you return. Reproach the person later to finish washing critical areas if necessary.
-Ask for help.
Talking with others about ways to meet the needs of the person gives you an opportunity to find different ways to help make the bath more comfortable.
Permalink
08.17.07
Posted in Alzheimer's Disease, arthritis, Assisted Living, Assisted Living Safety, care at home, Elder Care, Elderly Care, Elderly Diseases, exercises, Home Health Care, pain releif, Senior Citizen, soothes joints at 3:42 pm by admin
Elder Care Safety
Falls are the most common cause of injury in American adults age 65 and older. According to the National Safety Council falls are the leading cause of death. One in three of those 65 and older falls each year and 90% of hip fractures that occur in the U.S. are the result of a fall.
But do not panic over these statistics. Here are a few things to do to fall-proof your home and to learn how to fall the correct way to help prevent injury.
To fall proof your home:
 -Don’t pile clutter or items in pathways or stairways.
 -Put adhesive texture strips or a rubber mat on the bottom of shower. Install grab bars on the walls. Place a slip resistant rug on the floor to safely get in and out of bath.
 -Keep appliance cords out of walking area. Don’t put them under rugs.
 -Remove small area rugs at top and bottom of stairs and put adhere non-slip treads to bare-wood steps.
 -Place night lights to light the way from bedroom to bathroom. Keep a flashlight with new batteries close to the bed in case of power outage.
 -Clean up spills immediately.
 -Wear sneakers around the house and outside. Do not wear stocking feet or high heals.
In case a fall does happen here are a few steps to follow to do avoid or minimize injury:
 -If at all possible try to fall on your butt or side. Roll over naturally, turning your head in the direction of the roll.
 -Keep joints (wrists, elbows and knees) bent. Do not break your fall with your hands or elbows.
 -After falling take several deep breaths. Do not quickly get up especially if you feel you have been injured.
 -If you feel you have been injured call 911 or a family member for help.
 -If you feel you are not injured and are able to get up, crawl to a stable piece of furniture like a chair to support and help pull yourself up. Put both hands on the seat.
 -Slowly begin to raise yourself up and bend whichever knee that is stronger keeping the other knee on the floor. Slowly twist and sit in the chair.
Remember to have physical checkups and exercise regularly.
Permalink
« Previous Page — « Previous entries « Previous Page · Next Page » Next entries » — Next Page »