What exactly is Swine Influenza? Learn the facts about the virus that’s catching the
attention of the news media and concerned citizens all over the US from The Center of
Disease Control and Prevention website and share your thoughts.

1.) How should this outbreak be handled?

2.) What can adults and seniors do to prevent exposure?

Please comment below with your opinions!

Image Source:
-New York Times

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

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 Bakersfield 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 be flexible and listen to suggestions from the caregiver for the highest quality care. Also request that the agency complete an assessment; as elder care 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

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

With the growth of the senior care industry in Bakersfield and with many seniors requiring some form of in-home care or assisted living services, it comes as no surprise that almost everyday there seem to be new developments that surround the eldercare business. The best developments in Bakersfield senior services are those that improve the lives of seniors and ease the stress of caregivers caring for their elderly family members.

1. In-home monitoring systems – Big Brother style monitoring systems allow family members and elder care professionals to monitor the safety of a senior living independently through motion detectors, cameras, and vital monitoring.

2. Safety gadgets – electronic alert devices and personal alarms allow seniors to call for help when they’re in danger. Many come equipped with GPS for locating.

3. Transportation services – many communities offer free transportation for seniors over a certain age, so they can get around independently.

4. Exercise information and resources – it’s no longer believed that exercise is bad for seniors joints or their hearts when completed safely. Many gyms offer programs that cater to the older demographic.

5. Luxury goods – personal care products, like canes and walkers no longer have a sterile medical feel. Seniors can purchase items that fit their style and personality.

6. Elderlaw – with the number of baby boomers approaching their senior years, Elderlaw is addressing more needs of the elderly with legislation.

7. Gadgets – technologies cater to senior living, can improve their lifestyle and increase independence.

8. Resources for family caregivers – support groups, information sources and other resources are available to help family caregivers learn about senior care and connect with one another.

9. Peer care – caregiving agencies may have older adults on staff to provide care to their peers that might better relate to senior issues, offer companionship and increase a care recipients comfort level.

10. In-home Care – non-medical senior care is widely available through agencies like Home Instead Senior Care, to allow seniors to maintain their independence at home with the assistance they require.

Sources:
1. Eldercare ABC Blog
2. Franchise Prospector

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Grants for seniors in Bakersfield are available from the Federal Government and foundations that provide financial assistance for seniors relating to housing, education and more. There are Federal Grants for seniors that cover a number of areas like housing, volunteerism, nutrition and housing.

Popular Federal Grants for Seniors Include:

•    Capital Assistance Program for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities provides funds to provide transportation to elderly persons in areas public transportation services are not available, or when they are inappropriate due to a senior’s physical or mental condition.
•    The Foster Grandparent Program encourages seniors to volunteer in their communities, specifically with special needs children, through funding which is available for seniors 60 and older who have limited incomes.
•    Mortgage Insurance-Rental Housing for the Elderly -  this grant insures mortgage lenders against loss, to increase the number of quality and affordable rental properties available for seniors.
•    Retired and Senior Volunteer Program encourages community service by seniors 55 and older by offering reimbursement
•    Nutrition Services Incentive Program works with the Department of Agriculture to provide nutritious foods to senior meal delivery programs and other nutritional-focused organizations.

To apply for senior grants provided by the Federal Government or foundations, Bakersfield seniors must write a proposal, demonstrating the benefits that they would receive, or be able to dispense to others were they to become an approved recipient of the grant.

Sources:
1.    LovetoKnow
2.    Foundation Center

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

A large number of seniors in Bakersfield, and around the country suffer from some form of dementia, which can impact their level of independence and require them to rely upon family caregivers and other forms of elder care. Since personal safety, caused by dementia-related memory issues is a big risk for dementia sufferers living independently at home; new “Smart Homes” are being developed to provide seniors with independence and safety.

A group in the UK, the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering that’s behind the Smart Home hopes to have the senior living innovation available on the market within the next 5 years. Currently, there are two trial systems in the UK which monitor seniors’ movements around the home; which can detect unusual changes in behavior which could indicate a medical emergency or other senior crisis. The Smart Homes also have the ability to remind seniors to turn off lights, appliances, or taps that have been left on with verbal prompts, and can automatically turn functions in the house on and off.

The Smart Homes may not be able to replace traditional Bakersfield elder care services entirely, but they will allow seniors to maintain their pride in living with independence well into their later years, even with dementia.

Sources:
1.    Science Daily
2.    Caregiverunderground

Images: pressurefunk.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

In Bakersfield, a moderate to vigorous exercise program can be safe for seniors of all ages who exercise caution and gather knowledge about safe exercise methods so that the physical activity generates improvement to their health rather than create complications. Before beginning any exercise program, seniors should consider the following exercise tips.

1.    Clear it with a doctor – before beginning any exercise program, a doctor can ensure that physical activity will be beneficial to a senior’s health
2.    Start easy – if you’re a senior who doesn’t normally exercise regularly, start with light exercise and work yourself up to more vigorous activities
3.    Consider your options – would you prefer to exercise at a gym or outside? What options are available close to home? Which options are best considering the climate where you live?
4.    Choose safe gear – ensure that you have shoes with proper support, and clothing that is easy to put on and is comfortable to wear during exercise
5.    Forget “no pain, no gain” – when you’re young you might want to feel the burn, avoid activities that cause you pain during, or extreme discomfort later; know your limits.
6.    Pay attention to your body – if you begin experiencing new health issues or symptoms like chest pain, irregular heartbeat, severe shortness of breath, extreme weight loss, infections, or severe muscle or joint pain, consult a doctor and avoid further activity without medical approval
7.    Set goals – short and long term goals will get you to where you want to be
8.    Have a buddy – exercise with a friend or a senior care professional to make the physical activity more enjoyable

Sources:
1.    SeniorLiving.about
2.    Healthy Ontario/ Health Day News

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

According to a report by US News and World Report, many common ailments and changes that we naturally affiliate with the aging process, are not in fact normal for everyone and many common aging myths don’t hold as much truth as we like to assume.

1.    Extra weight cuts your life short – studies show that carrying a few extra pounds (up to 30lbs) in you senior years may not result in a shortened lifespan after all, provided you are not obese with a BMI over 30. At age 75 an extra 30 lbs can actually be protective of the immune system, staving off other illnesses; proving that carrying a little extra weight isn’t always bad, as we’ve been taught to think.

2.    Everyone must prepare for senility – we’ve all heard the expression “old and senile” when discussing older adulthood, but senility doesn’t happen to everyone contrary to the stereotype. Some cognitive decline may occur, but it typically doesn’t compromise a senior’s ability to live independently.

3.    {city} Seniors Shouldn’t Exercise – the belief is that seniors won’t have the energy to exercise, or that it can be harmful. However, seniors who exercise have a lower occurrence of heart problems, and less fatigue.

4.    All hearing loss requires a hearing aid – only 35% of seniors require hearing aids; although many seniors do experience some form of hearing loss, many maintain perfect hearing into their later years.

5.    Seniors are cranky – while some seniors may experience personality changes due to Alzheimer’s or dementia, or may experience bouts of depression due to their declining health, research proves that our personalities don’t change after age 30. The cranky {city} seniors you know have probably always been that way.

Sources:
1    US News & World Report

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

For many Bakersfield seniors, remaining independent means living with some or all independence in their own homes, as opposed to being moved into a nursing home or assisted living facility. In order to remain independent at home, seniors need to accept some of the changes of aging and take safety measures so that their independence isn’t further sacrificed.

For many seniors and their families, one of the first steps towards helping seniors maintain independence is to install senior safety equipment around the home to prevent, falls, accidents, and overall make their lives more comfortable. The next positive step towards maintaining the independence of senior’s at home, is to hire a non-medical, in-home senior care agency to provide assisted living services. They can assist seniors in any way necessary, in order to remove the burden of caring for a home, which can become overwhelming and sometimes, physically impossible with age. Professional caregivers can help with cooking, light-housekeeping, running errands, companionship and more, which all make it possible for seniors to remain independently at home later in life.

Senior transportation services, which are offered free by many community organizations across the United States are also available, which allow seniors to get around town independently, even after they’ve had to give up their car keys. Meal delivery services like Meals on Wheels can alleviate the burden of cooking, by bringing hot meals directly to the homes of seniors. Today, getting older doesn’t mean an inevitable sacrifice of independence; Bakersfield seniors have options that allow them to live as they choose.

Sources:
1.    Aging Parents and Eldercare
2.    Home Instead Senior Care

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Healthy brain foods can help improve memory and prevent the onset of memory loss, and more serious senior health issues like Alzheimer’s or dementia. Seniors and their elder care givers can improve overall brain health, memory, and decrease brain age by maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet which also focuses upon brain food. To incorporate healthy brain foods into your own diet or the diet of someone you provide elder care for, consider the following tips:

•    Try to maintain healthy glucose levels by monitoring sugar intake – when blood glucose is too low or too high, memory can become impaired. While in some, effects may last only temporarily, a diet too high or low in sugars (especially processed ones) can negatively impact the brain’s functioning
•    Use the glycemic index to choose foods which fall lower on the scale, and don’t impact blood glucose levels severely
•    Choose foods high in fiber and whole grains (whole grain bread over white) and combine it with a protein source for faster absorption
•    Minimize intake of trans fats and saturated fats – stick with unsaturated fats as much as possible
•    Choose foods high in omega-3, omega-6 and antioxidants

Healthy brain foods:

•    Blueberries, acai berries and other dark-skinned fruits and berries which are high in anti-oxidants (prunes, raisins, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, plums etc)
•    Salmon and other lean sources of protein rich in omega-3 and unsaturated fats
•    Vitamin E rich nuts like pecans, walnuts, and almonds are natural antioxidants
•    Dark-skinned vegetables like kale, spinach, brussel sprouts, broccoli, red pepper, beats etc are also good choices for brain food

Sources:
1.    Brain Ready
2.    Alzheimer’s Association
3.    Live Science

Image:  pro.corbis.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Many seniors loved to garden in their younger years and regret not being able to enjoy tending their gardens as they age.  The trick is to find a way to still have them participate but to use caution and still be safe. Many seniors can enjoy planning the plants that they would like someone else to install or by going to the nursery to pick out plantings. By Using ergonomic gardening tools that seniors can use while sitting or standing, and choosing plants that will grow tall seniors of all ages and levels of mobility can receive the same enjoyment from gardening. Another alternative is to plant an indoor herb garden which requires minimal care.

Other springtime activities that the aging population may enjoy in the company of a family caregiver or close friend might include going for a walk or drive to look at spring plants or flowers; going to a local park to feed the ducks and enjoy the warmer weather; or going shopping for home items needed for spring. Seniors engaging in any of these springtime activities need to remember not to overdo physical activity; taking regular breaks, ensuring they remain well-hydrated and pay attention to physical signs of fatigue.

As spring approaches, the young and old alike look forward to the warm weather and sense of a fresh new beginning that spring brings.

Sources:
1.    Disabled World
2.    Seniors Resource Guide  Rebecca Kolls

Image:  ecofriend.org

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.