Feeling nervous and anxious is common and is usually nothing to be concerned about. However, when Bakersfield seniors begin to feel anxious about an illness, certain events and difficult situations, there may be a problem that should be addressed. More than 10% of the elderly population is affected by anxiety disorders. Many of these individuals are not treated because they do not recognize the symptoms. The following information is beneficial in helping seniors notice symptoms and get help.

1.            When anxiety is not treated, it can cause other problems, including cognitive decline, poor physical health and a poor quality of life.

2.            There are different types of anxiety disorders and not every senior will experience the same symptoms. Specific phobias are a common form of anxiety. This is when a senior has an intense and irrational fear of something that does not pose an immediate threat. Other types of anxiety include social phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder.

3.            Many seniors who have anxiety issues will also have symptoms of depression as well. It is important to know the different signs of depression and anxiety.

4.            Anxiety can be caused by many different things, such as a family history of the disorder, mental illness, extreme stress or trauma, bereavement and excessive use of alcohol, drugs or caffeine.

5.            Family members, friends and caretakers should all be aware of the symptoms of anxiety. Seniors should know them as well. The symptoms can include worry and fear, racing heart, poor sleep habits, depression, muscle tension, the avoidance of social situations, hoarding, being overly concerned with safety and self-medicating.

6.            This disorder can be easily treated when the symptoms are spotted and all seniors who have an anxiety problem should discuss possible treatment with their 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.

When making the decision to become a Bakersfield caregiver, it is important to be sure you have a clean background. If you are not caring for an immediate family member, you will most likely work for an agency that provides seniors with a caregiver. It will be necessary to pass a background check prior to working as a caregiver. This will ensure that seniors will be safe and that there will be no possibility of abuse.

1.            The most common form of senior abuse is financial abuse. Many caregivers, and others who provide services to seniors, will financially take advantage of the individual. Many seniors are very trusting and do not even realize this is happening.

2.            Seniors who are in need of a caregiver will benefit from using a senior home care agency. All of the caregivers employed will have passed a background check.

3.            Many people believe it is easier and cheaper to hire their own caregiver. While this may seem true at first, it usually ends up costing more. There will also be issues of quality care. When not using an agency, it is possible to hire someone who does not have a genuine interest in the well being of the senior.

4.            Being a good caregiver involves trust and respect. Caregivers should have a passion for helping the elderly and not be looking for personal gain in any way. Aside from a check from the agency, caregivers should not be paid for the services they provide.

Source: Caregiver List

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.

Combining Generations in One Household

Whether you’re a senior yourself or have an older adult in your life, you’ve likely considered joining forces to live together under one household. You may have different reasons for thinking about this, but you’ll find the same benefits of bringing all family members together.

1. The state of the economy – the economy has hit many people hard and families have to rely on each other for support. This has often been one factor that has influenced families in brining seniors into their homes to provide physical care as well as financial assistance across the board

2. There is a growing senior population – 16% of the American population lives in a multi-generational household. Numbers are increasing as there are more seniors living to older adulthood who may require care and support, or find it important to be surrounded by family

3. People are marrying later – younger generations on average aren’t starting families until their mid to late 20’s, so many people in their early 20’s remain at home which puts more adult generations under one roof

4. Focus upon independence – seniors and their families are no longer focused upon aging in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, so living with a family member can create a care option focused upon independence

Via: Pew Research 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.

Bakersfield Non-Medical Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

As we get older, we realize that health is very important. Many seniors are now searching for ways to improve their over-all health. The Healthy Aging Program offers some great resources for any senior who wishes to improve their quality of life. Below is a list that contains some of the benefits of the program and how seniors can utilize resources.

1. One of the main goals of the program is to promote the health of aging adults. This is done by increasing the community’s ability to identify and implement various strategies and programs.

2. The program strives to improve the quality of life for seniors.

3. Preventative services, caregiving services and mental health services are all part of this unique senior program.

4. The program only employs professionals who are trained in aging issues. These professionals can offer a wide array of services. Seniors who are interested in improving their health and living a longer life can greatly benefit from taking advantage of the Healthy Aging Program.

5. In 2005, the Healthy Aging Program expanded and now includes the Healthy Alzheimer’s disease segment. Now seniors with the disease can get extra assistance they require at home.

6. The Healthy Aging program can also offer financial planning. The program tries to help seniors by slowing the growth of health care costs.

Source: cdc.gov

Image: oregon.gov

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.

Bakersfield Aging Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

While many people have been diagnosed with a specific type of diabetes, there are still millions that have the disease but do not know about it yet. By taking the time to review the risk factors provided below, seniors will be able to determine if they are at risk of developing diabetes. If any of the risks are present, seniors should discuss things with their doctor to determine if they are in fact at risk.

1. Type 1 diabetes risk factors include family history and genetics. If you have family members who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, you will be at a higher risk of developing the disease. Disease of the pancreas or injury to the pancreas can have an effect on how the body produces insulin, placing you at a high risk. Rare infections and illnesses that affect the pancreas are also a risk factor.

2. Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include being over-weight, having an impaired glucose tolerance and having insulin resistance. In addition, your ethnic background could also be a risk factor. Type 2 diabetes occurs more often in Hispanic/Latino Americans, Native Americans, Alaska natives, African-Americans and Asian-Americans. High blood pressure, family history, no exercise and age can all be risk factors.

3. Gestational diabetes affects pregnant women. The risk factors for this type of diabetes include obesity, age, family history and previous glucose intolerance.

4. The best way to reduce risks associated with diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight, exercise daily, have a healthy and balanced diet and manage your blood pressure. These things can reduce the chances of developing all types of diabetes.

Do you have a parent with diabetes? The American Diabetes Association offers these tips on how to help your parent manage their diabetes.

Source: diabetes.webmd.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.

Seniors often require a caregiver to help them with daily living. Caregivers, like those at Home Care Bakersfield, provide a variety of services depending on the exact needs of the senior. While it sounds simple enough, the hiring of a caregiver is an important decision. Your loved one will be in the hands of this person, so you want to make sure they will be able to provide the necessary services while being a compatible companion for the senior. The list below provides some tips that can be of use when looking for a caregiver.

1. Check local Home Care Agencies. These companies staff many caregivers. However, they do provide different levels of service, so take the time to make sure all services that are needed can be provided.

2. If the senior in need of a caregiver is approved for care that will be paid for by Medicare, the Health Care Agency must be Medicare certified. This ensures that the agency meets the minimal federal requirements.

3. If the senior only requires personal care or homemaking services, caregivers do not have to come from an agency that is certified for Medicare.

4. If there is no Medicare coverage, the cost of the caregiver will have to be paid by the person receiving services. These services can be expensive, but there are some low rates for personal care attendants, also known as PCA’s. They are typically paid by the hour at rates between $13 and $35.

5. Do not be afraid to contact multiple agencies. It is important to find the right caregiver that will provide all services needed by the senior.

Source: thefamilycaregiver.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.

Home Care Bakersfield cares for many aging adults, and we can tell you the best way for seniors to stick to their New Year’s resolutions is to set goals that they feel will truly change their lives. For some, exercise and diet goals are ones they can stick to; but that tends to be the exception not the rule. Make sure you set goals that motivate you, because they’re things that you truly want to accomplish.

1. Educate yourself – you’re never too old for learning. Pursue an interest; go back to school and take advantage of the discounts for seniors who want to return to college. Or take a class that teaches you more about another hobby like a craft or physical activity like dance

2. Expand your career – if you’re a senior who’s still in the workforce, make the best of your last few years in a career and do something you really enjoy. Even if you’re not working for an income, volunteer somewhere that fulfills you

3. Take a trip – if you’ve been dreaming of getting away somewhere, make it your goal this year. You can take the opportunity to plan and save. It doesn’t have to be something glamorous; even a journey to visit family that normally comes to you makes for a change of pace

4. Work on organization – sometimes with age, people become more sentimental. You may find that your home is becoming more cluttered. Take the opportunity to get your home organized for a safer and more comfortable environment

5. Develop new relationships – whether it’s romance you have in mind, or just feel you’d benefit from increasing your social circle; get out there and network!

Via: LifeScript

Image Source: sxc.hu

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.

Even though most people wait until the start of the year to begin working on their goals, it may be best to start them as soon as possible. Seniors can benefit from starting early. By doing so, they will be less likely to forget some important things about their goals. There is no law that says you have to wait until New Year’s to begin. We here at Home Instead Senior Care Bakersfield would like to share the following list that provides some tips and reasons for starting early, so get out there are start working toward your goals today!

1. Millions of people make resolutions each year and many of them are seniors. These goals are often centered on changes that will improve daily life, so there is no better time to start than now!

2. Resolutions do not have to be made just for the New Year. You can make a resolution at any point during the year and begin working on it as soon as you can. There is no need to wait until the first day of a new year.

3. When starting early, you will see there are benefits. You will begin improving your life sooner. Self-discipline is one of the most important factors of any resolution success, so start early and make changes for the better.

4. Keep your goal in mind, no matter when you start to work on your resolution. Create a plan that will allow you to stick to your convictions and achieve your goals. Resolutions not only improve life, they also help people grow physically, emotionally and psychologically.

Source: ehow.com

Image Source: sxc.hu

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.

It’s never too early to start planning or discussing a senior’s wishes with regards to their future care. Start discussing your loved ones’ wishes early if you have an elderly relative, and encourage them through the planning process that will help ensure that their needs are met when the time comes that they must be addressed.

1. Look at all resources –in order to help a senior plan for the future, take a look at all of the options by considering family who may be able to provide help, finances and other assets that could contribute to an aging loved one’s future

2. Understand that plans can change – when planning early, a guideline might be put in place. You might decide with the senior in your life that you will be a full or part-time caregiver. But, by the time they actually need help you might not be in a position to follow through. Accept that plans can change, be flexible, and have backup plans in place

3. Enlist help – a geriatric care manager or a senior care provider can help evaluate the future needs seniors may have to aid in planning

4. Organize the legal aspects – encourage your elderly relative to create a will, draft an advanced directive, establish a power of attorney, and go through the estate planning process

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.