As we age, it is known that some of us will require some extra help at home. While not all seniors will need the same types of services, chances are that a vast majority will need a caretaker at some point. Elder care is an important issue in the US since a large portion of the population is senior individuals. Additional facts about elder care and home care for seniors can be found below.

1.            More than 12% of the population in the United States is over the age of 65. This is expected to double in the next 25 years. It is believed that by the year 2030, almost 72 million US residents will be over 65.

2.            The population of those over the age of 85 is expected to double by 2030, reaching 9.6 million individuals.

3.            More than 80% of those considered to be a senior have at least one chronic health condition. These are the people that will benefit from home care in the future.

4.            There are millions of people, about 25% of the population, who are currently providing assistance to a senior parent or family member. A large percentage of all caregivers are women.

5.            Typically, the average caregiver is a female around 46 years of age who is married and employed at a full time job.

6.            Of those who have a caregiver, 88% report that that person is their spouse.

7.            Most caregivers will spend more than 40 hours a week providing care and 70% are spending less time with their family and friends as a result. 90% of all caregivers suffer from depression.

8.            Studies have indicated that extreme stress from being a caregiver can take as many as ten years off the life expectancy of the caregiver. Caregivers also are more prone to having a chronic condition as a result of the stress, depression and exhaustion that comes along with being a caregiver.

Source: Home Instead

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 the majority of people, the holidays are a time of joy and sharing. While this may be a festive time of year, it can also be the most common time for seniors to experience depression. There are many reasons for this, such as feeling lonely, missing loved ones that have died, feeling old and not needed and having financial limitations. Regardless of the reason for the depression, it is important for seniors to get help when the depression affects how they function on a daily basis.

1.            Most feelings of depression around the holidays are temporary. Seniors will be able to continue functioning and will go on with daily activities. However, there are some seniors who will become clinically depressed and will not be able to function. This is when the senior will need some professional help.

2.            Seniors who have changes in sleep and eating habits may be depressed. They will also show very little interest in things they usually enjoy. These are key signs that the senior may be suffering from depression.

3.            If the depression is ignored and not treated, it can lead to other problems such as an additional loss of independence, premature death, suicidal thoughts and actions and the aggravation of symptoms associated with other illnesses.

4.            Caregivers and family members need to watch for depression warning signs around the holidays. These include changes in mood, behavior, habits and weight, inability to concentrate, lack of energy and interest, persistent sadness and withdrawal socially.

5.            There are many forms of treatment available to help seniors deal with their depression, but the first step is to notice the symptoms and talk to a doctor.

Source: GMHF Online

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 Christmas season right around the corner, many people will be looking for the perfect gift for Bakersfield seniors. However, this can often be a challenge. It is hard to determine what seniors actually want and need, so shopping for the perfect gift can seem like an endless chore. The list below offers some great tips on buying a gift for a senior. These gifts are affordable and can offer many benefits to seniors.

1.            Blankets and throws will always be a great gift. Many seniors feel chilled and will enjoy being able to wrap up in a warm blanket.

2.            Slippers and new socks are great gifts as well. While they may not seem like such a huge thing, seniors need to keep their feet warm and most seniors will wear their slippers all year long.

3.            Many older women will enjoy receiving some lotions and bath soaps. However, before buying these, make sure the senior has no allergies to certain scents.

4.            Bath robes and new pajamas will be useful and appreciated. Warm winter clothing such as sweaters, pants and thermal underwear make nice senior gifts.

5.            Many seniors have trouble seeing, yet they enjoy reading and doing puzzles. If you can find books that are large print, make sure to include these as a gift.

6.            Most seniors are living on a very tight budget. Giving a gift card to a supermarket or discount store will be very helpful, allowing the senior to buy some food or items for the home.

Source: Payson Round Up

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.

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.

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.

StrengthforCaring.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.

Ensure the Safety of Elderly Loved Ones at Home

If you have an elderly family member that lives alone, chances are there are some safety concerns. There are some simple steps that can be taken to help your family member prepare for unexpected situations or emergencies, as well as making their home a safer place. The following list of tips will help to provide extra safety for your loved one.

• Create a communications center – this consists of important information that is needed during an emergency, such as medications, phone numbers of family members and the names of doctors. These lists should be kept near a phone or posted to the side of the refrigerator.

• Create a safety system – this could simply be a scheduled phone call to check on the individual. It could also be an installed monitoring system.

• Make sure to enforce fire prevention – do this by checking outlets, using timers and whistling tea kettles and discouraging the use of any candles.

• General household safety – install non-slip rugs, nightlights, extra lighting to increase visibility and telephones that have large buttons and light up in a dark room.

• Make sure emergency items are available, including medical cards, first-aid kits, and extra batteries, anything that would be needed in an emergency situation.

Source: Life123.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.

Facts about Family Conferences

Family conferences do much more than just keeping the door of communication open. This is when important health information is shared among all immediate family members. These meetings can also be very beneficial to caregivers because they will be able to ask for additional help. The following list contains some of the benefits of family meetings.

1. All members of the immediate family should be present at family conferences. This is where they will be told what is going on in terms of the care the senior is receiving.

2. These meetings can help divvy responsibilities to all family members so one person is not taking care of the majority of the responsibilities. This will also help alleviate misunderstandings.

3. Family conferences should have an impartial moderator present. This could be a care coordinator, a member of the clergy or a trusted family friend.

4. Family meetings are a great way to make sure everyone is informed of the status of the senior. It will also allow family members to feel they are involved in the care.

5. Family caregivers will benefit from these meetings because they will be able to ask for help if they need it. Caring for a senior is a huge responsibility, so it may be necessary for other members of the family to take on some of the responsibilities to assist with care.

Source: NFCACares.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.

How Caregivers Can Manage Care Better

Managing the care of a senior is not an easy task, but there are some things that caregivers can do to help things along. One of the most important parts of managing care is to write down observations. This will help the caregiver review the progress or decline of the senior and will also help to gather and organize important information.

1. Make sure to note the abilities of the senior. Caregivers should note how they function mentally and physically.

2. Always have a written list of available family members. This can help when the senior needs additional care or the caregiver requires medical information.

3. Make notes about the physical environment in which the senior lives. These notes should include whether the environment is accessible and if it can be adapted at a reasonable cost.

4. Caregivers should also write down their other responsibilities, including at home, work and in their community. This will help them manage their time more effectively.

5. Caregivers also need to keep track of their own health and physical abilities.

6. Financial resources should always be noted, both for the caregiver and the senior receiving the care. This includes available insurance, end-of-life documents and the existence of healthcare.

Source: NFCACares.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.

Filling a niche by offering help with daily living, non-medical senior care assists seniors and families, by helping to take the stress out of caregiving.

Non-medical senior care companies, such as Home Instead Senior Care, focus on companionship, but also assist with daily needs, such as meal preparation, running errands, medication reminders, light housecleaning, incidental transportation to doctor visits and other non-medical tasks.

When all of these daily tasks are being done by a professional, non-medical caregiver, it allows family members, such as grown children or spouses, to spend quality time with the senior, versus the quantity time of just spending hours doing the grocery shopping and cleaning, but not really being a companion to their elderly loved one.

Non-medical senior care can also keep a senior in his/her own home longer, since it actually makes them more independent in their own natural surroundings. It can prevent the senior from having to move to senior housing earlier than necessary, since their daily needs are being met.

Many seniors may need care, but they still enjoy the freedom of picking their own activities and doing them in their own homes on their own schedules. In fact, 89% of seniors surveyed by Home Instead Senior Care prefer to live at home versus moving to a senior facility.

Read more on Non Medical Home 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.

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.