4 Common Concerns About Respite Home Care

At one point or another, many of us act as the caregiver for an aging spouse, parent, or grandparent. Most people find caregiving manageable in the early stages. But as your loved one ages and their needs become more intensive, you could find yourself at a growing risk for caregiver burnout. To avoid burnout, it’s crucial that you ask for help, either from other family members or through respite care services.

With traditional home care services, the majority of caregiving tasks are performed by professional caregivers, with family caregivers acting in a support role. With respite care, the roles are reversed. Family caregivers remain the primary care providers, but they’re supported by professional caregivers. This way, family caregivers can reduce their risk of suffering caregiver burnout.

With respite care, you can rely on professional caregivers to:

• Offer a helping hand with difficult or stressful care activities.
• Look after your loved one when you have other commitments.
• Help you find time to attend to your well-being.
• Provide guidance and support in confusing or difficult situations.

Despite the clear benefits of respite care, many people are hesitant to hire these services. Often, family caregivers feel guilty about reducing their caregiving workload. Other times, they worry about their loved one’s security and safety. In some instances, they’re concerned that in-home elder care is a bad fit for their finances, lifestyle, or schedule.

Thankfully, many of these concerns are easily addressed by hiring the right home care agency.

• Can my family afford respite services?

Respite services, like other types of home care, are typically provided by the hour. While hourly rates and minimum visit lengths will vary from agency to agency, this will give you financial flexibility when scheduling care. Most agencies will happily work with you to minimize home care costs, where possible.

• Will care be scheduled in a way that works for me and my loved one?

Do you need respite services for a specific day and time each week? Are you worried about maintaining your loved one’s routine? If so, you might be concerned about your options for respite care schedule. Once again, scheduling policies will vary between different agencies. However, the vast majority of respite care providers will provide you with options that fit your needs, routine, and lifestyle.

• How will caregivers respond to my loved one’s unique needs?

Caregiving is extraordinarily personal. Every care recipient has his or her unique needs, limitations, and preferences, so care must be customized on a person-to-person basis. A high-quality caregiving agency will take pains to personalize your senior’s care services.

• What if my loved one needs specialized care?

Seniors who are coping with significant physical or cognitive decline may require specialized care. If your loved one needs assistance with personal activities like bathing or toileting, you’ll need an agency that provides personal care services on a respite basis. Similarly, if your loved one is coping with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you’ll need caregivers who are trained in memory care.

Learn more about respite care services and request a free consultation by contacting Visiting Angels Newton/Canton today!

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton:

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our Alzheimer's home care, dementia care, companion care, senior care, respite support, transitional aid, and at home living assistance in Canton, Stoughton, Westwood, Brookline, Watertown, Needham, Dedham, Norwood, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns.

We to have been awarded a Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe for five years. We have also earned the Best of Home Care – Leader in Excellence, Trusted Provider, Best of Home Care Provider, and Best of Home Care Employer by Home Care Pulse. We are proudly accredited by The Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts.

While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. Call us at 617-795-2727 for information.

Protecting Your Senior from Medical Identity Theft

One of the most significant benefits of senior home care services is an increased sense of safety. When you hire a caregiver for an elderly loved one, they can safeguard your loved one’s physical well-being, helping them stay healthy and avoid injury. At the same time, a caregiver can provide peace of mind about your loved one’s tosecurity, helping them steer clear of scammers, fraudsters, and other criminals.

The rise of medical fraud has underscored the need to protect seniors from scammers. Cases of medical identity theft have increased in recent years, with seniors among the most targeted demographics. This year, scammers have been using the new style of Medicare cards as a way to trick seniors into giving up sensitive personal information.

If you’re worried that your loved one could A caregiver’s presence may thwart attempts at medical identity theft by one of these scams, senior home care services can offer peace of mind. Seniors are most vulnerable to scammers when they’re alone. A caregiver from a reputable senior homecare agency will give your loved one someone they can turn to when they get a strange call, receive a suspicious email, or find someone on their doorstep asking odd questions.

How Senior Homecare Services Help

It’s no coincidence that elderly adults who need at-home living assistance the most are also likely targets for scams. These include older adults who live alone, suffer from chronic physical disability, or are experiencing cognitive decline or dementia. All of these factors increase seniors’ risk of health and wellness problems, as well as their vulnerability for criminal targeting.

In-home care services can help seniors manage isolation, physical disability, and cognitive decline. In doing so, home care providers can increase physical and mental wellness, while also shielding seniors from different types of scams and fraud.

Attempts at medical identity theft may be thwarted by a caregiver’s presence. Right now, many of the most common medical identity theft scams involve the new Medicare cards. Some of the tactics used by scammers include:

• Claiming that seniors need to pay an activation fee in order to use the new cards.
• Claiming the card is frozen and asking seniors to unfreeze by “confirming” their social security number or Medicare number.
• They are claiming that seniors are owed a refund related to the new card and asking for private information or financial data.

Typically, these scams are conducted over the phone, though there are instances of email and door-to-door scams as well.

When seniors are targeted by these scams, having someone else present can make a huge difference, scammers will try to exploit older adults who are unfamiliar with new technologies or who are suffering from cognitive decline. If someone else is present, they are often able to recognize what’s happening and intervene.

Unfortunately, many seniors don’t have someone else around when this happens. Many of them live alone and are separated from family by long distance. Others live with or near family members but are alone during the day when family members go to work.

If you have an elderly loved one in this situation, and you’re worried about their safety and security, senior home care services could be the solution. With senior homecare services, your loved one will have a home care aide present on a full-time or part-time basis, reducing their risk of falling victim to medical identity theft. Because of their experience with other seniors, many caregivers are able to quickly identify scams, further reducing the chances of victimization.

It’s important to note, however, that medical identity theft isn’t practiced solely by hardened criminals. Often, seniors are defrauded by those close to them, including predatory family members or untrustworthy caregivers.

In light of this, it’s crucial that you hire senior homecare services from a reputable agency, like Visiting Angels Newton/Canton. Ask questions about the security measures taken by different providers and take the time to find an agency — and a caregiver — that you can trust.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton:

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our Alzheimer's and dementia care, companion care, respite support, transitional aid, and in-home elder care services in Dedham, Needham, Norwood, Westwood, Brookline, Watertown, Canton, Stoughton, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns.

We are honored to have been awarded Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe for five years. We have also earned the Best of Home Care – Leader in Excellence, Trusted Provider, Best of Home Care Provider, and Best of Home Care Employer by Home Care Pulse. We are proudly accredited by the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts.

To discuss your options for professional, in-home care, call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton at 617-795-2727 today!

Long-Distance Caregiving Services For Seniors

What is long-distance caregiving? Long-distance caregiving refers to the times when a family needs to find at home living assistance for a loved one who does not live in their area. For example, your mom and dad still live in your family’s home stat, while you and your siblings have moved out of state. What do you do when your parent needs help, and you can’t relocate to be there for them? Long-distance caregiving is the answer.

At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, we recognize that not all families live close together. In today’s fast-paced world, adult children are relocated for jobs, parents move for retirement and sometimes retired adult children relocate far from where their parents have retired. No matter why you live far away from a loved one, you don’t have to worry if they need care. Our long-distance caregiving services can help.

Getting Started with Long-Distance Caregiving

When you find yourself in need of care for a loved one who lives in Newton, Canton, Needham, Wellesley, Brookline, Natick, Westwood, Dedham, Norwood, Stoughton, Roslindale, Watertown, and nearby areas, call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton at 617-795-2727 anytime. Our friendly and helpful team can help you get started with in-home care services. Over the phone, they will discuss topics that include:

• Your parent or loved one’s location
• Where you live (for reference)
• What care needs your loved one has
• How often you believe your loved one will need care
• How long these care visits should last
• If your loved one can or would like to be involved in the discussion of caregiving choices
• If your loved one has any chronic care conditions, we should be aware of (for example dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other conditions)

Once we have the basics established, we can discuss setting up a free, no-obligation one-on-one visit by one of our case managers at your loved one’s home. The case manager will meet with your loved one and go over the guidelines you have established and to see if there is anything else that may concern them.

From here it’s easy, we’ll match your family member with a carefully screened home caregiver who can meet your loved one’s needs and scheduling requirements. The home health aide will visit based on the schedule determined and provide feedback to the case manager. Our team will keep in regular contact with your family to ensure we are meeting all your needs.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides a variety of non-medical elder care on an hourly, overnight, respite, and 24-hour care basis. Care plans include a range of services that attend to personal care, housekeeping, personal hygiene, meal preparation, transportation, medication reminders, and more. We also offer a cognitive health program as well as dementia & Alzheimer’s home care.

If you are concerned about the well-being of a loved one who lives far from you, long-distance caregiving can provide the solution you need. Call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton today at 617-795-2727 for a free in-home consultation!

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton:

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our Alzheimer's care, dementia home care, companion care, senior care, respite support, transitional aid, and at home living assistance services in Westwood, Norwood, Brookline, Watertown, Needham, Dedham, Canton, Stoughton, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns.

We are honored to have been awarded Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe for five years. We have also earned the Best of Home Care – Leader in Excellence, Trusted Provider, Best of Home Care Provider, and Best of Home Care Employer by Home Care Pulse. We are proudly accredited by the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts.

When Your Loved One Rejects Home Care

Maybe you’ve been concerned about your mom recently. As she ages, you’re noticing a few worrisome signs that her needs at home are about to evolve beyond her independence. Sure, you’d love to stop by the house more frequently to help, but with a career and family schedule, it’s nearly impossible for you to take on this massive responsibility. It's a typical scenario in families, and it usually results in uprooting a senior to a nursing home or assisted living facility or retaining professional home care.

However, people can be stubborn, especially parents who may be insecure about a type of "role reversal" happening. Your parent not only refuses to leave home, but Mom or Dad is rejecting the very idea of a professional caregiver.

So how do you get them on board when they want to stay home but don’t want help from a professional caregiver? Here are five ways to find a caregiving compromise.

Talk Through Their Fears — and Yours

It’s not easy for your parents to admit they need help. The thought of having another person in the home to help them perform tasks that used to be routine could make them quite uncomfortable. Of course, over time, that professional home health aide can become a close friend and partner, but it may take a while and trust-building.

Work through these fears with your parents instead of forcing a solution. When an adult child becomes too controlling, the resistance from your parents is bound to increase. A 2004 study from SUNY Albany found this to be accurate, stating that participants were ambivalent about receiving care and “use a variety of strategies to deal with their ambivalent feelings, such as minimizing the help they receive, ignoring or resisting children’s attempts to control.”

Though you may be frustrated by rejection and reticence, put yourself in their shoes. Be understanding, and once your parent feels understood, explain your point of view. Remember not to be patronizing or disrespectful, but share your genuine concerns about being able to stay home safely.

More Dancing, Less Wrestling

An expert in geriatric communication and family relationships, David Solie, wrote a book about the best ways to navigate these difficult conversations. It was called “How to Say It to Seniors: Closing the Communication Gap with Our Elders.” Solie recommends the partnership approach and advocates for adult children to “put control on the table” rather than commandeering the process. He believes conversations about care should be “more dancing, less wrestling.”

To that end, he offers many tools to talk in more concrete, visual ways about the current situation and the proposed solution. His "dance cards" provide go-to strategies on topics like resetting expectations and minding the gap, and his caregiver “mind maps” allow a caregiver to lay out in detail all the aspects of care to be considered. You could also keep a journal of your parents’ changing in-home senior care needs. All of these checklists and resources are especially helpful in getting buy-in from siblings as well, as your parents may not be the only ones opposed to bringing in-home care.

Consider the Risks

Staying home without any support can be risky. For one family, an aging spouse refused any at-home living assistance. The family has been worried about his waning mobility. Ultimately, he suffered a fall, which led to a hospitalization and, unfortunately, his passing — as he was not able to recover from the injuries he sustained. While no family can be fully prepared for a fall or other type of sudden health event, there are ways to prevent injuries and incidents that lead to such devastating outcomes — and having a professional caregiver as a presence in the home is one of them.

Of course, not every fall results in such a tragic outcome; however, the road to recovery can be a turbulent one for a senior who has fallen. Along with doubling the risk of falling again after falling just once, the sheer financial impact can be crippling.

All of this is to say, the risk of leaving Mom or Dad alone when he or she needs help isn't worth it, and you must discuss the risks with your parent.

Work With a Mediator

You’ve explored every avenue of persuasion, using all the logic at your disposal, but it may be there is just no convincing Mom or Dad that this is the best option. That’s when bringing in a neutral third party to moderate the conversation could make a difference in the outcome. Sometimes your parents need to hear the options, risks, benefits, and challenges presented by someone who is not as emotionally invested as you are. A mediator may also help lessen the guilt burden many parents put on their children for considering home care. AARP offers these resources for finding a mediator, should this approach work best for your family.

Present Options and Let Them Choose

Empower your parents to decide on home care by gathering information on some providers. Ask for their input: what do they value in a home care company? What’s the budget? Talk about what a professional caregiver can do that they maybe never considered as an option: like providing companionship, or helping with housework and transportation to doctor’s appointments. Once you’ve gathered information on a few options, sit down together to discuss the pros and cons.

Remember: even as you partner with a professional caregiver, you will still play an essential role as coordinator and advocate. Your opinion on a trusted in-home caregiver is equally valuable.

Need more advice on building consensus on home care among the family? Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can help. Contact us today at 617-795-2727.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton:

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our Alzheimer's care, dementia home care, companion care, senior care, respite support, transitional aid, and at home living assistance services in Westwood, Norwood, Brookline, Watertown, Needham, Dedham, Canton, Stoughton, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns.

We are honored to have been awarded Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe for five years. We have also earned the Best of Home Care – Leader in Excellence, Trusted Provider, Best of Home Care Provider, and Best of Home Care Employer by Home Care Pulse. We are proudly accredited by the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts.

While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. Call us at 617-795-2727 for information.

Finding a Compatible Home Care Provider

Finding the right home care provider for your spouse, parent, or grandparent can be difficult. Thanks to our Select Your Caregiver® program, Visiting Angels® makes it easy for care recipients and their families to find a compatible home care provider. We’ve been matching clients with qualified, skilled, and compassionate caregivers for more than two decades. We know what it takes to find the right fit, and we understand how important and impactful your choice of caregiver will be.

If you’re currently looking for a home care provider and you’re unsure what to look for in a caregiver, don’t worry. By focusing on the following three qualities, you will quickly narrow down the list of potential caregivers.

1. Caregiving Skills & Experience

Home care is a wide-ranging industry, encompassing many different types of care services. On one end of the spectrum is companion care, which provides aging and disabled individuals with a helping hand for necessary, day-to-day activities. On the other end, are various types of specialized care for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

If your loved one only requires essential in-home living assistance — help running errands, making meals, doing laundry — a companion care provider will be suitable. Other types of care will require a caregiver with specialized skills and experience. This includes physical assistance, as well as specialized care services such as Alzheimer’s care and dementia care.

Before meeting with in-home care agencies, it’s a good idea to draw up a list of tasks that your loved one will need from his or her caregiver. Consider researching caregiving activities online so that you don’t forget anything. This will also allow you to familiarize yourself with which types of caregivers provide which kinds of services.

When meeting with potential in-home care agencies, it is helpful to review this list with them in detail. Ask them whether they provide each of the services your loved one will need. Also, check whether the caregivers are CNA or HHA-certified caregivers; they have training or experience providing these services to seniors. Finally, make sure that they are adequately licensed for whatever level of care your loved one requires.

2. Choose a Home Care Aide with Personality

When hiring a home care provider, a caregiver’s personality can be as important as his or her professional skill set. On a basic level, this will ensure that your loved one trusts his or her caregiver. Without this trust, high-quality home care service can be unhelpful.

On a deeper level, the right personality fit can be the difference between substandard care and the right caregiver. Your loved one will spend several hours a week with their caregiver, so it’s vital that a strong relationship is established. When personalities clash, home care visits are a chore for both parties. However, with the right fit, a caregiver can feel like a new member of the family.

As you meet with caregivers, it’s crucial that you and your loved one get a feel for each caregiver as a person. Will your loved one feel comfortable receiving care from this individual? Will your loved one enjoy conversations or quiet time in this person’s presence? Will you and your family feel at ease with this caregiver looking after your loved one? Trust your instincts and make sure that you, your loved one, and your family are happy with the final decision.

3. Caregiver Availability & Scheduling

The third important factor when choosing a compatible home care provider is scheduling and availability. While some seniors only require a few hours of care every week, others require assistance on a full-time basis or even 24-hour care. The more intensive your loved one’s caregiving needs, the more challenging it can be to find a caregiver with suitable availability.

At the same time, many seniors are set in their day-to-day routines and preferences. It’s important that these routines are maintained or accommodated when scheduling home care visits. If your loved one enjoys sleeping in, early morning visits could be disruptive. If they enjoy afternoon walks, you’ll want to make sure that a caregiver is there to accompany them.

While scheduling and availability are important in a home caregiver, sometimes it’s worth making the sacrifice for the right caregiver. If, for example, you’ve found a caregiver with the ideal skill set and personality, but your loved one would need to take their daily walk an hour later each day, a slight change in your loved one’s routine may be worth it to get the caregiver you feel is the right fit.

Are you looking for qualified home care providers in your area? Contact us today for a free in-home consultation.

What Skills Matter Most for Personal Care?

If you have a loved one who requires in-home care, you will want to determine which type of services they need. The two most common types are companion care and personal care. Companion care focuses on activities like errands, meal preparation, and light housekeeping. Personal care covers these tasks, but also includes activities that require physical assistance, such as dressing and bathing.

Both types of services require different skills from home caregivers. However, the physical aspects of personal care can be quite skill-intensive. Also, individual care recipients often suffer from chronic health conditions or a form of disability, further highlighting the importance of having experienced caregivers.

So if you’re looking for a personal caregiver to assist a loved one, here are the skills that matter most.

Skills to Look for in Personal Care Providers

Physical Assistance

Personal care or private duty care is typically distinguished from companion care by tasks involving physical assistance. These include things like dressing and grooming, bathing and toileting, mobility assistance, or helping an individual from one position to another.

Any time that a caregiver provides physical assistance, they need to ensure the client’s safety and comfort: This requires more skill than many people realize.

So if you’re hiring personal care services, it’s crucial that you find a home care provider who can keep your loved one safe and comfortable.

Cleanliness & Hygiene

Many individuals who receive personal care are at increased risk of bacterial or viral infections. 

If an infection occurs, many of them are also at increased risk of hospitalization.

Caregivers can help prevent infections in elderly adults by maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene. They take care to frequently clean and sanitize their hands. They help clients maintain high standards of personal hygiene by assisting in their bathing, dressing, and laundry needs.

Personal care is only one part of preventing infections among care recipients. However, it’s vital that you choose a home care aide who understands the role of cleanliness and hygiene.

Knowledge & Awareness

If you speak with professional caregivers or care administrators, they’ll tell you how necessary experience is to care providers.

One area where this knowledge proves useful is client monitoring. As caregivers tend to their clients, they monitor for changes in behavior, cognition, coordination, strength, emotional wellness, and other areas. This way, they can detect signs of decline early and alert the client or the client’s family, and case manager promptly. Caregivers may also keep care logs upon the client’s family’s request.

Many of these changes are subtle or gradual, so they go unnoticed without a caregiver present. However, with a knowledgeable and observant personal care provider, they’re less likely to go undetected.

Well-informed caregivers also know how to respond in unusual and urgent situations. Many caregivers have the fundamental skills for day-to-day caregiving, but when the unexpected happens, you want an experienced and educated professional.

Communication & Compassion

The best caregivers have excellent interpersonal skills, and personal care providers are no exception.

Think about some of the activities that personal care entails. Few people feel comfortable dressing, bathing, or going to the bathroom with the assistance of another person. It takes an extraordinary level of respect, understanding, and care to put clients at ease during these activities. The best personal care providers possess these qualities in spades.

Skilled caregivers are also capable communicators, both with their clients and their clients’ families.

Caregivers who communicate poorly will often leave clients confused about why specific care tasks are being performed or feeling like their wishes and preferences aren’t being considered. Proper caregiver-client communication can resolve these issues, improving quality of care.

It’s also important that caregivers communicate with family members of their clients. Without adequate communication, problems can go unreported, important care tasks can go unperformed (or get performed twice), and trust between care providers and family members might erode. Active communication will ensure that everyone is on the same page and working toward the same goals.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has an outstanding team of caregivers who work tirelessly to provide quality care to our clients. Contact us today at 617-795-2727 for a free in-home consultation!

Three Common Senior Ailments That Make Caregiving Harder

Many seniors struggle with chronic medical conditions that must be carefully managed, not just by health professionals, but also by professional caregivers. We spoke with several professional caregivers about common ailments among seniors that can complicate caregiving and how you can help improve the quality of life for your aging loved one.

Mobility Challenges

Limited mobility poses more challenges to caregiving. Arthritis affects several adults over the age of 65, making it one of the most common chronic conditions seniors must manage. Osteoporosis, another common diagnosis in seniors, can increase the risk of fractures or falls, leading to significant disability. Falls caused by weak bones or arthritis can make it painful or difficult to complete day to day tasks and prevent your loved one from being physically active.

Seniors with mobility problems are particularly at risk for injury inside the home. Keeping the house free of clutter or other potential hazards should be the first step to keeping your loved one with mobility challenges safe.

Staying active is also essential for health and well-being for people of all ages, but this may be challenging for those with pain or difficulty moving. Consider speaking to your loved one's doctor to come up with a plan for staying physically active. This may mean a referral to a physical therapist or exercise physiologist who specializes in working around mobility difficulties.

Swallowing Difficulties

Did you know that as we age, it is more common to have difficulties with chewing or swallowing? Missing teeth or poorly fitting dentures may cause chewing problems. Swallowing difficulties, called dysphagia, can happen when the esophagus becomes weak, or other physical changes occur.

Nicole Keels-McGruder, a professional caregiver, states that caring for seniors with swallowing or chewing difficulties can cause significant challenges. She recalls a senior she cared for, “who could not drink thin fluids and all of her foods had to be pureed. A thickener had to be added to her drinks. Making sure that she was properly elevated during meals was also something that I learned the hard way. Because of her condition, I stayed in the room with her for an additional 30 minutes to make sure that all of her food was down.” Nicole added that the time it took to prepare, puree, thicken, and ensure proper positioning was much more demanding of her time and energy.

Getting help with food preparation or supervision of meals can help your loved one if they have been diagnosed with dysphagia. A home health aide can help relieve some of the pressure in caring for and supervising a loved one with dysphagia or other swallowing concerns.

Infectious Diseases

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, older adults are more susceptible to infectious diseases. Common contagious illnesses that can impact the elderly include urinary tract infections and digestive and respiratory diseases, like pneumonia and influenza. It is also more challenging to diagnose people over 65 because they don't always present with typical symptoms. Instead, they can experience more generalized symptoms like loss of appetite, a change in mental status or incontinence. A difficulty with a diagnosis can lead to prolonged discomfort and a higher risk of hospitalization. 

For family caregivers, it is essential to understand the signs and symptoms of common infections to start treatment as soon as possible. Look for sudden changes in behavior, confusion, skin infections, chills, difficulty breathing, cough, fever, digestive disturbances, or lack of appetite. These symptoms should be evaluated immediately by a medical doctor who can determine the best course of action. An annual flu shot is also recommended for all seniors.

Home Care Demands a Village

All this is to say that you should genuinely consider your role in your aging parent's in-home care. Ailments like these are so common among the elderly, the degree of care your loved one needs is sure to evolve. While you may be able to handle things initially, are you genuinely ready to juggle a parent's worsening ailment with your own family and responsibilities?

Many of these conditions that impact older adults are chronic and require regular management. Getting help from a senior home care agency can be instrumental in ensuring your loved one’s quality of life.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Choosing the right home care provider is a difficult decision, and you want the best for your loved one. Our experienced and compassionate home caregivers have served countless seniors and disabled adults in Greater Boston with dignity and respect for over 14 years. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm Home Care Pulse five years in a row. We have accreditation by Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts and have been awarded Boston Globe Top Places to Work.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton offers dementia home care, Alzheimer’s care, companion care, respite support, transitional aid, live-in care and other elder home care services in Wellesley, Natick, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Water-town, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood, and nearby towns. The services provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton will be sure to make a positive impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Call us today at 617-795-2727 for more information.

When to Hire a Personal Caregiver

Many seniors require assistance with personal care for their comfort, safety, and overall quality of life. Families often struggle with when to hire a personal caregiver even as the need for skilled caregiving grows.

There are a few different reasons for this. Professional caregiving can be costly, so families sometimes have apprehension about affordability. Others don’t fully understand the distinction between personal care and companion care. Also, some elderly adults may resist hiring a personal caregiver. Typically, this stems from feelings of unease or embarrassment about what this type of care entails.

However, personal care is essential for any senior who wishes to age in place and maintain quality of life. Because of this, it’s vital to understand this type of caregiving and when it becomes a necessity.

UNSURE WHETHER TO HIRE PERSONAL CARE SERVICES FOR AN ELDERLY LOVED ONE? THE FOLLOWING GUIDE SHOULD HELP.

When Does Personal Care Become Necessary?

Generally speaking, there are two different types of home care services. First, there’s companion care, which covers basic caregiving needs, such as help preparing meals, light housekeeping, and running errands. Next, there’s personal care or private duty care, including more intensive caregiving tasks, including assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing, grooming, and bathing.

Usually, personal care becomes necessary when seniors can no longer safely perform these tasks by themselves. However, personal caregiving may also be required in other situations, such as lack of mobility, an increased risk of falling, or a chronic physical health condition (such as arthritis, diabetes, or COPD).

Based on the above, the need for personal caregiving may seem cut and dry. However, that’s rarely the case. Age-related physical difficulties don’t come about all at once. Instead, they develop gradually over time. That makes it easy to miss signs that advanced care may be necessary.

The best way to catch these warning signs is to become familiar with them. Below, we’ve collected five key factors that indicate it may be time to hire a personal or private duty care service.

Signs Your Loved One Needs Private Duty Care

Advice from Health Care Professionals. If a doctor or nurse believes that your loved one cannot safely live at home without professional senior home care, they may recommend that you hire personal or private duty care.

Difficulty with Activities of Daily Living. Has your loved one admitted that they struggle with necessary personal activities, like dressing or bathing? You may wish to talk with them about whether they might benefit from personal caregiving.

Fear for Personal Safety and Health. As their physical health declines, many seniors start to fear for their safety and well-being. A professional caregiver can reduce risks of injury and illness, keeping your loved one safe, and dispelling unwanted fears.

Unexplained Injuries or Self-Neglect. Many elderly adults become embarrassed when they are no longer able to care for themselves. In these cases, they’re unlikely to admit the need for care. However, family members can often spot signs of decline, including unexplained cuts, scrapes, and bruises, or signs of self-neglect.

Noticeable Loss of Mobility or Strength. At a certain point, the age-related physical decline becomes evident. When your loved one struggles to move from point A to point B regularly or doesn’t have the strength to perform everyday tasks, it’s time to start thinking about in-home care services.

Next Steps: In-Home Consultations & Hiring Home Caregivers

Even if you’re unsure whether or not your loved one requires skilled caregiving, we strongly recommend speaking with local home care providers. A consultation comes with zero risks, and if you hire a care service earlier rather than later, you raise the chances of your loved having the ability to age in place safely.

If you live in the Greater Boston area, please contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton to learn more about personal and private duty care services. We offer free consultations conducted in the comfort of your loved one’s home.

During your consultation, we’ll discuss your loved one’s care needs, recommend a basic framework for services, and work with you to develop a care plan and schedule that fits your budget and your loved one’s lifestyle. Every client is carefully matched with a compatible caregiver, and through Select Your Caregiver®, you can be confident your loved one will get a caregiver who is the right fit for their needs and personality.

Choosing the right home care provider is a difficult decision, and you want the best for your loved one. Our experienced and compassionate home caregivers have served countless seniors and disabled adults in Greater Boston with dignity and respect for over 14 years. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm Home Care Pulse five years in a row. We have accreditation by Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts and have been awarded Boston Globe Top Places to Work.

Call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton at 617-795-2727 today to learn more about personal care and book a free in-home consultation with us.

When Your Senior Loved One Needs Help in the Bathroom

As we age, our muscles may weaken, our dexterity may suffer, and in some cases, we deteriorate mentally. If you have aging parents, you may experience this first-hand as your parent begins needing additional help with everyday tasks around the home. Maybe you don't mind helping if Dad needs help cleaning, cooking, or getting dressed. However, what happens when your aging parent needs help in the bathroom?

​Risk of Falling in the Bathroom

Routine activities like bathing or showering and getting in and out of the tub can cause slips and injuries. People over 85, especially if suffering from any incontinence, which is common in Alzheimer’s patients, are more likely to injure themselves on or near the toilet because they often have to rush to get in the bathroom, placing them at higher risk for falls.
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Moreover, sadly, the consequences of senior falls can be severe. Over 27,000 seniors in the USA die as a result of falls every year. If Dad is getting unsteady on his feet, it may be that bathing unsupervised is no longer an option. If you’re the only one capable of helping out, you may need to prepare yourself to enter the bathroom with your aging parent. 

Overcome the Embarrassment

Going to the bathroom is a personal, private experience, so helping a friend or family member use the toilet can be embarrassing for both you and your loved one. Some seniors may be ashamed to appear so vulnerable in front of a family member, and it may be hard for you to see the person who raised you in such a state. However, overcoming the embarrassment can lead to positive outcomes. Studies have shown that seniors who feel supported by a family member to achieve daily activities, such as using the toilet, feel more independent and in control of their lives, which in turn offers health benefits. Your loved one may come to realize that receiving bathroom help is better than the alternative, which could include leaving home for a nursing home or assisted living facility and losing independence. 

​Make it as Easy as Possible

If using the bathroom is difficult for Dad, it may be possible to remodel his bathroom to make it easier to use. Installing grab bars could help him to get on and off the toilet; nonslip decals are easy to apply to tubs and tiles to minimize slip risk. Senior-friendly walk-in tubs with doors can provide easy access, although they can be expensive. In general, ensuring that everything is within his reach, and there are minimal obstacles will be a great start. 

Offering Physical Help

Unfortunately, sometimes even a remodel might not be enough to allow every senior to use the bathroom alone, some will need a person there to help. The Family Caregiver Alliance offers tips on how to aid a senior loved one in the bathroom:

• If the senior needs help to remove clothes, move slowly, and encourage him to help.
• Don’t rush the senior; if it takes a little time, it may be better to sit him down, walk away, and come back when he is finished.
• If your loved one needs help to wipe, wet wipes may be easier than toilet paper.
• Assist with pulling up pants as pants that are not pulled up correctly can become a trip hazard.
• Provide as much privacy and modesty as possible.

According to some home caregivers, a sense of humor can be an essential tool in helping a senior loved one to use the toilet – laughter (not at the person, but with the person) can help to release the tension of the situation for both of you. After all, you both know what's going on, and there is no harm in merely acknowledging it. 

​Consider Professional Help

It’s possible that through no fault of your own, helping your loved one use the toilet may not be something that either of you is ever comfortable with as part of a routine. In this case, you could consider professional home care services. A professional caregiver can visit your loved one and help with personal care. A professional caregiver could assist with most of your loved one’s needs, including helping walk to the toilet, getting undressed, getting into the tub, washing, and even using the bathroom.
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Even if you are both comfortable with you helping in the bathroom, a professional caregiver or home health aide could offer another crucial point of assistance. Although some seniors may keep to a reasonably regular bathroom schedule, most could need to use the bathroom at any time of the day or night, which means you could be on call 24/7. Getting respite care services from a home care provider would allow you some time off while ensuring that your loved one's bathroom needs are adequately addressed.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton senior home care agency provides quality in-home care services to seniors and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our dementia home care, Alzheimer’s care, companion care, respite support, transitional aid, and elder home care services in Wellesley, Natick, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Watertown, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood, and nearby towns. The services provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton will be sure to make a positive impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Call us today at 617-795-2727 for more information.

Seniors Prefer Living Assistance to Assisted Living

When you ask senior citizen, the vast majority express a preference for living assistance. Rather than move to an assisted living facility, most would prefer to receive in-home living assistance, allowing them to age in place.

For confirmation, look no further than the AARP which conducts regular surveys on aging and housing preferences. In these surveys, the vast majority of respondents express a preference for aging in place — even if this means hiring an in-home care service.

What leads so many seniors to this preference? We have a pretty good idea at Visiting Angels®. Below are 7 of the biggest reasons why our clients choose living assistance as an alternative to assisted living.

7 Reasons Seniors Prefer In-Home Living Assistance

#1. Improved Health Outcomes

One of the best arguments for living assistance is the improved health outcomes of seniors who age in place. Numerous studies have found that seniors who receive care at home live longer than those who move to care facilities. In addition to higher life expectancy, seniors who age in place also enjoy fewer physical, mental, and emotional health challenges.

#2. In-Home Care is More Affordable

When you move to an assisted living facility, you’re spending tens of thousands of dollars each year. In some instances — namely those where 24-hour care or 24/7 monitoring is necessary — this can be cheaper than receiving support at home. However, in cases where seniors need less intensive care, it’s typically much less expensive to hire an in-home caregiver.

#3. Enjoy Greater Independence

Age-related difficulties can rob elderly adults of total independence. However, that doesn’t mean that seniors need to sacrifice their autonomy completely. By continuing to live at home, seniors can maintain as much independence and freedom as possible. In a similar vein, they can preserve their privacy in a way that isn’t possible with assisted living.

#4. Trustworthy Caregiver Relationships

At an assisted living facility, care is delivered by a staff of several caregivers. At any given time, care is provided by whoever happens to be on duty. However, with in-home living assistance, care is provided by the same caregiver or caregivers on each visit. As a result, caregivers can develop close relationships with clients and offer better companion care and personal care, which allows for greater comfort, increased trust, and a more personal (and more personalized!) approach to caregiving.

#5. No Change in Personal Routines

When seniors move to a care facility, they don’t just experience a change of environment. They also undergo a significant change in routine, partly due to a new and unfamiliar space, which impacts how seniors live day-to-day. It also stems from how the facility schedules mealtimes, group activities, and caregiving administration, which can differ significantly from at-home routines.

#6. Familiar Surroundings

After a move, you need to adapt to new living quarters and a new neighborhood. Which can be more jarring than you might expect, especially for seniors who’ve lived in the same area for a significant amount of time. Losing nearby amenities, favorite shops, and cherished neighbors can prove just as alienating, if not more, as the loss of one’s home.

#7. Home Sweet Home

The main reason why seniors prefer living assistance over assisted living should be apparent: they feel most comfortable at home. While some seniors don’t feel strongly about aging in place, they tend to be the exception, not the rule. The vast majority express a clear preference for living at home, the place where they feel the safest, the most secure, and the most content. That’s not possible with assisted living, but with living assistance, it is.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides professional home caregivers who are CNA or HHA-certified home health aides. Schedule a free in-home living assistance consultation by contacting us today!

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton senior home care agency provides quality in-home care services to seniors and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our dementia home care, Alzheimer’s care, companion care, respite support, transitional aid, and elder home care services in Canton, Stoughton, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Westwood, Dedham, Watertown, Roslindale, Norwood, and nearby towns. The services provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton will be sure to make a positive impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Call us today at 617-795-2727 for more information.

Coordinating Home Care Between Family & Agency Caregivers

When hiring a caregiving service, many family caregivers remove themselves from the situation. They envision care as a two-part equation. Care recipient on one side - home care agency on the other.
In truth, family caregivers are a crucial part of this equation. Caregiving is easier when family members and professional caregivers support one another. It allows you to split caregiving responsibilities effectively. It will enable you to focus on the care duties you’re most comfortable handling. Also, it helps you avoid caregiver burnout, which is common among family caregivers.

Preventing caregiver burnout is equally crucial for your well-being. Caregiving improves or maintains quality of life for your loved one. However, that shouldn’t come at the cost of your self-care. Without support from professional caregivers, it is possible for your physical, mental, and emotional health to suffer.​

So when you are hiring home care services, it’s essential to keep your schedule, needs, and well-being in mind. Moreover, you’ll want to do the same for other family caregivers who provide care for your loved one.

Coordinating with Home Care Agencies

When you’re hiring a caregiving service, whether it is respite care, live-in care, dementia care, or other assistance, there are several areas where it helps to coordinate between family caregivers and home care professionals.

Below are six areas where this can make a big difference in the quality of life for the care recipient and family caregivers.​

• Care Scheduling. When scheduling care visits, you’ll want to consider your loved one’s routine. At the same time, you’ll want to preserve time for your activities. A reliable home health care agency can schedule care in a way that balances these needs. 
• Care Responsibilities. With a home care service, you can split care responsibilities effectively. Agency caregivers can take on more laborious tasks or those that require specialized knowledge or skills.
• Respite Care. Family caregivers need periods of respite to avoid caregiver burnout. A professional care agency will prepare a comprehensive respite plan that will help you attend to your well-being, and they’ll be there when you need a few hours (or a few days) to yourself.
• Cooperative Care. Certain care activities are much easier to perform as a team. As such, it can be helpful to hire a professional caregiver to assist with aspects of care (as opposed to providing care only when you’re not around).
• Companionship for Elders. Many families worry about their loved one’s safety and well-being when left alone. With a home care service, you can reduce your loved one’s alone time by ensuring a family member or care professional is there.
• Flexibility. What happens if your loved one’s condition changes and they need different types of care? Alternatively, what if you have a sudden change in your personal life and can no longer provide care as often? The home care agency will be able to adapt their services to your needs.

​Finding the Right Home Care Provider

Choosing the right home care provider will make coordinating care between family caregivers and care professionals seamless. So, it’s crucial to keep this in mind during consultations with home care agencies. A comfortable rapport and feeling of confidence in your case manager are essential.

When you meet with home care agencies, you’ll want to focus primarily on your loved one’s needs and routines. However, you should find time to discuss your own needs as well as those of other family caregivers. Can care be scheduled in a way that makes your life more workable? Are there care tasks that you’d preferably have performed by a professional? Will you need respite visits to allow for self-care?

At the same time, you’ll want to develop a good relationship with the agency and its home health aides. These are the people who you’ll be planning, coordinating, and working with throughout the duration of your loved one’s care. As such, it’s essential that you start with a foundation of comfort and trust.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning home care agency with an excellent track record with over fifteen years of experience in the home care industry. Our case managers and care providers understand the tremendous role family caregivers have in the care equation. Because of this, we go the extra mile to work with our clients’ family members to provide caregivers with the support they need. Our case managers and office staff make it a priority to communicate with you and your family about changes in schedules, medication needs, appointments, and the day-to-day needs of our clients and their family caregivers.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton senior home care agency provides quality in-home care services to seniors and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our dementia home care, Alzheimer’s care, companion care, respite support, transitional aid, and elder home care services in Wellesley, Natick, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Watertown, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood, and nearby towns. The services provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton will be sure to make a positive impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Call us today at 617-795-2727 for more information.