Preparing for Elderly Visitors During the Holidays in Bakersfield
With the holidays fast approaching, many of us will have house guests. Some of those guests may include the elderly, so it is important to prepare for their arrival as well as their stay. There are some simple things that can be done to make their stay more comfortable. Make sure to consider their personal and medical needs and make all necessary arrangements. Things to do to prepare for your visitor include:
1. Have a designated caregiver if one is needed.
2. Find space in the home for your visitor.
3. Make sure that the provided space will accommodate their needs.
4. If your elderly visitor uses a wheelchair, make sure that hallways are clear and they are able to move around the home freely.
5. Prepare the room for the visit by arranging furniture to accommodate any special needs.
6. Make sure to include a nightstand in the room.
7. Add some extra food to the refrigerator, including some favorites of your guest.
8. Coordinate schedules of everyone in the house. This will be helpful if your elderly visitor will have doctor’s appointments.
9. Don’t forget quality time. Preparing can be stressful, but the idea is to make sure everyone enjoys the visit.
It is common for a Bakersfield senior to make mistakes financially, which is why it is important for seniors to share financial information with spouses and financial advisers. While it can be difficult to ask for outside help, Bakersfield seniors will benefit from having someone help them with financial decisions so that mistakes will not be made. Many seniors who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s will experience financial problems. The following list provides 8 tips that can help.
1. Make sure someone else has access to online banking records. This is usually a family member of a financial adviser. By doing so, bank activity can be monitored to see if mistakes are being made.
2. Have a current list of all companies that bills are paid to. This includes utilities, mortgages, insurance and loans.
3. Reduce credit limits on credit cards and make sure others have access to credit-card account records.
4. Investment accounts should be made known to family members and spouses. When another person checks these records, they should be able to see how much is in the account and whether that is the right amount.
5. Tax returns should be filed by a professional. If possible, share the return paperwork with a trusted family member.
6. Have a list of all financial relationships. This means any company or individual the senior conducts financial transactions with.
7. Have important documents in place and accessible. Wills, insurance policies, deeds and any other important document should be accessible by family members.
8. A financial checklist will help seniors with Alzheimer’s stay on track. This will help them manage what bills to pay and will also keep them up to date on all account balances.
Becoming a caregiver for an elderly in Bakersfield CA is a huge responsibility. It is usually not a role that many people choose. However, they will find that a family member will need the help of another as they age. Becoming a caregiver is a stressful and overwhelming process, but with the following 10 steps, the process should be a little easier.
1. Lay foundations. By establishing baseline of important information on the senior, the caregiver will be able to determine what services will be needed and how they can be of assistance to the senior.
2. Medical assessments and diagnoses are important. As a caregiver, it is important to have all of the current medical information on the individual. This includes all diagnoses, medications and medical assessments. This information will be useful when preparing to provide care for the senior.
3. Become educated. Make sure you know all there is to know about the medical conditions of the senior. Try to share this knowledge with friends and family members. The more understanding a person has of the issues the senior is dealing with, the more helpful a caregiver will be.
4. Determine needs. Not every senior has the same needs. Some may need help bathing a dressing while others will simply need assistance managing medications and appointments. Be sure to know how well the senior can function independently before they require any help.
5. Devise a care plan. Again, this will vary depending on the needs of the senior. The needs will change over time, so a care plan is meant to be adjusted. However, it should be in writing so others will know what the senior needs if the caregiver is not available at a given time.
6. Examine finances. Providing care to a senior also means making sure their finances are taken care of. Caregivers need to make sure bills have been paid and that the senior is a financially stable as possible. Keep all financial records in a safe location.
7. Review any and all legal documents. This will help ensure the wishes of the senior will be carried out. If necessary, go over these documents with an attorney. Legal documents also include birth certificates, property settlements, military records income tax returns and wills. There are many documents that will have to be gathered, so make sure to get all of this information and keep it in a safe location.
8. Have safety checklists. This will help to make sure the home is safe for the senior. Whether they are living in their own home or residing with the caregiver, there should be a list that will ensure the safety of the senior while they are in the home.
9. Keep in contact with others. Having communication with other caregivers who are facing similar situations is a great way to get extra support. It is also a great way to learn new ideas and ways of dealing with certain situations. Other caregivers can offer a lot of knowledge on different topics that could pertain to any senior.
10. Care for yourself. This is one mistake that many caregivers make. They are so wrapped up in caring for others that they tend to neglect their own needs. As a caregiver, you must set time aside for yourself. This is essential if you want to be an effective and efficient caregiver.
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.
Being a caregiver is a huge responsibility. Aside from having to be available at all hours, caregivers usually make major personal sacrifices to be able to provide care to seniors. To offer thanks and recognition, Home Instead Senior Care is holding a drawing for caregivers that will reward them with a free five day cruise.
Additional details are provided in the list below.
A caregiver recently was the winner of a cruise giveaway from Home instead Senior Care. The cruise sets sail on January 3, 2011 and lasts for five days. The cruise is part of the Caregiver stress Management Cruise program.
Openseas Travel is working with Celebrity Cruise Line to award various caregivers for their efforts in making ultimate sacrifices to care for another elderly adult.
Free cruses are awarded to those who enter a drawing put o by Home Instead Senior Care. Winners of the cruise will be able to receive 40 hours of free care through Home Instead senior Care franchises.
Offering a free cruise is one way to pay tribute to those who take time from their own lives to provide care and services for elderly adults in need. This is one way that Home Instead senior Care takes time to notice the efforts of all caregivers and offer them a rewarding experience and time to connect with themselves and their family again.
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 will begin to lose some of their vision as they age. While this is a normal process, seniors need to be aware of a disease called AMD. This is a degenerative eye disease that can be detected and treated during early stages. There are some things that seniors can do to help prevent the disease. The following list contains some great suggestions to maintain eye health.
1. Get routine eye exams. Any individual who is over 50 years old should have an eye exam at least once a year. These exams can help detect AMD and other problems with the eyes during early stages. Treatment for the disease is an option when it is detected.
2. Know the risk factors associated with AMD. Those over 50 are at a higher risk of developing the disease. If there is another remember in the family with AMD, chances are also increased. Additional risk factors include obesity, smoking, high blood pressure and poor eating habits. These are all things we can control and change to help prevent the development of AMD.
3. Be aware of treatment options. Discuss these with your doctor and always ask questions. Some vitamins may reduce the risk of the disease. There are available treatments that can stop the disease and even restore lost vision.
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.
Very few people have the time and warning to be able to prepare for being caregiver. When an elderly family member becomes ill, they will often require some help from a caregiver. Being a caregiver is not an easy thing to do. While the following things can help prepare, there is really no way to be completely ready to take on this role.
1. Lay foundations. By establishing baseline of important information on the senior, the caregiver will be able to determine what services will be needed and how they can be of assistance to the senior.
2. Medical assessments and diagnoses are important. As a caregiver, it is important to have all of the current medical information on the individual. This includes all diagnoses, medications and medical assessments. This information will be useful when preparing to provide care for the senior.
3. Become educated. Make sure you know all there is to know about the medical conditions of the senior. Try to share this knowledge with friends and family members. The more understanding a person has of the issues the senior is dealing with, the more helpful a caregiver will be.
4. Determine needs. Not every senior has the same needs. Some may need help bathing a dressing while others will simply need assistance managing medications and appointments. Be sure to know how well the senior can function independently before they require any help.
5. Devise a care plan. Again, this will vary depending on the needs of the senior. The needs will change over time, so a care plan is meant to be adjusted. However, it should be in writing so others will know what the senior needs if the caregiver is not available at a given time.
6. Examine finances. Providing care to a senior also means making sure their finances are taken care of. Caregivers need to make sure bills have been paid and that the senior is a financially stable as possible. Keep all financial records in a safe location.
7. Review any and all legal documents. This will help ensure the wishes of the senior will be carried out. If necessary, go over these documents with an attorney. Legal documents also include birth certificates, property settlements, military records income tax returns and wills. There are many documents that will have to be gathered, so make sure to get all of this information and keep it in a safe location.
8. Have safety checklists. This will help to make sure the home is safe for the senior. Whether they are living in their own home or residing with the caregiver, there should be a list that will ensure the safety of the senior while they are in the home.
9. Keep in contact with others. Having communication with other caregivers who are facing similar situations is a great way to get extra support. It is also a great way to learn new ideas and ways of dealing with certain situations. Other caregivers can offer a lot of knowledge on different topics that could pertain to any senior.
10. Care for yourself. This is one mistake that many caregivers make. They are so wrapped up in caring for others that they tend to neglect their own needs. As a caregiver, you must set time aside for yourself. This is essential if you want to be an effective and efficient caregiver.
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.
Caring for an elderly parent is hard enough, but when the senior lives far away, it makes caregiving even more difficult. More than 7 million Americans are currently in the role of a long distance caregiver. This causes increased stress for the caregiver and they may even experience feelings of guilt because they cannot be there in a moment’s notice. The information below can help long distance caregivers ease their stress and continue to provide care, even though their parents are far away.
Knowing the needs of the senior is essential. Not every senior will be able to have a long distance caregiver. If the senior requires daily assistance, it will have to be done by someone who is close by. If it is a long distance caregiving situation, be sure to check in regularly on the phone. Online video chat systems will also be beneficial. It may also be helpful to get the phone numbers of friends of the senior. This can be another way to check in and make sure everything is going well.
Put a plan together for seniors who can still do things on their own. They should have a list of things that need to be done on a daily basis as well as anything that involves home maintenance. Planning these things ahead of time does not cost anything and will provide seniors with the structure they need. There are ways to help from a distance, such as arranging food deliveries, hiring someone to care for the lawn and having a handy man on call to help with repairs.
There are local Senior Agencies that can provide additional assistance if the senior needs it. These services often include helping with cleaning and cooking as well as making sure seniors get to doctors appointments.
Caregivers that are not close by can also hire a personal-care aide to help the senior with daily chores. These professionals can assist in many ways, including daily hygiene, home cleaning and helping seniors with errands.
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 a senior falls ill or suffers an injury, they may need the help of a caregiver. If there are no willing family members to step into this role, there is a new way to help seniors find a caregiver. Since technology is always changing, many seniors are jumping on board, using email and smart phones to communicate. Now there is an app that can be downloaded that will help seniors locate a caregiver. More information on this is provided in the list below.
iFindCare is the first mobile application designed to locate a caregiver. The app is available at the iTunes store for immediate download and can help people find individuals that will provide child and elder care services.
The app is simple to use. Simply enter a zip code and the search will return local individuals who are available as a caregiver.
One of the most difficult parts of finding a caregiver is knowing where to look for resources. This app has become a useful tool for many families with a senior who needs additional care.
In addition to finding a caregiver, the app also allows users to make use of an interactive checklist that will help them know what to look for in a caregiver.
This new app is intended to help seniors and those looking for childcare. Finding a caregiver is now much easier than ever before thanks to iFindCare.
People suffer through a cold during the winter. Others may be severely affected by the flu. For older adults, both of these could include other complications, which is why it is important for them to seek treatment as soon as any symptoms are noticed. The information below can be useful for seniors during the flu season.
1. Flu symptoms will include fever, sore throat, congestion, muscle aches and cough. Colds usually include a stuffy or runny nose.
2. There are different strains of the flu and seniors need to be aware of these as well. The swine flu shares many symptoms with the regular flu but patients will also experience vomiting and diarrhea.
3. Most people will not develop a fever when they have a cold. With the flu, patients will typically run a fever between 100-102.
4. The flu will cause a lot of fatigue and will last for many weeks. Seniors with a weak immune system or chronic disease could battle the flu for more than a month.
5. Headaches are not reliable indicators of the flu or a cold.
6. Seniors with lung issues need to be cautious of getting the flu because it could turn into pneumonia.
7. A sore throat can be a symptom of colds and the flu, so seniors need to make note of other symptoms they have to determine what they have.
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.
