Round-the-Clock Home Care for Seniors

Most seniors want to age at home for as long as possible. Still, seniors living with chronic health conditions or physical and emotional limitations may need 24-hour living assistance at home. This constant care is likely to be impossible for families to manage and sustain. One option is to move in with a family member. Another option is to move them to an assisted living facility. A third option is full-time or 24-hour in-home care, where professional caregivers provide 24/7 assistance – day and night – in the comfort of their own home.

Why Some Seniors May Need 24-Hour Home Care

Poor eyesight, memory loss, mobility issues, and deteriorating health are some of the things that can make simple everyday tasks challenging and frustrating for older adults. Professional one-on-one caregivers from Visiting Angels can handle these daily responsibilities and offer safety, support, and companionship. Here are some advantages of round-the-clock care:

Safety

Professional home caregivers from Visiting Angels are trained to identify tripping and accident risks and other potential household hazards for seniors. They can act as your eyes and ears to monitor and protect your loved one.

Reliable care at a reasonable cost

Nursing homes and other facilities for the elderly can be costly. Knowing you’re getting reliable, affordable home care is a cost-effective advantage of a 24/7 live-in home care aide.

Support from friends and family

When your loved one is comfortable in their home, they can welcome and entertain family and friends. Visitors can come when they want, unlike nursing homes with permanent visiting hours. This flexibility enables more people to spend quality time with senior loved ones.

Personalized care & lifestyle maintenance

When seniors move into a nursing home, many things change – a new room, surroundings, people, and schedules. All of these transitions can disorient and upset the elderly. In-home caregivers will ensure the care they need without disrupting their routine. A one-on-one support system enables a high level of personal care for seniors. Meals, activities, and other requests can be tailored to your loved one’s preferences. A home caregiver can tackle light everyday chores and keep the house clean and orderly according to your loved one’s wishes. They can also help with day-to-day transportation to and from doctor appointments, grocery store visits, and other out-of-home activities.

Meaningful Companionship

In addition to physical assistance, a 24-hour professional caregiver offers emotional support and one-to-one companion care. A 24-hour home care aide provides seniors with an acquaintance they can rely on and prevent loneliness.

Respite for family caregivers

Many family caregivers can become overwhelmed when supporting an elderly loved one and may benefit from respite care service. 24-hour care service can provide families a brief break by offering a helping hand with household responsibilities. Families can rest easy knowing there is always a considerate, competent professional taking care of their loved ones.

Visiting Angels‘ 24-hour home caregivers provide dedicated and compassionate care for seniors, keeping them safe and comfortable while giving you peace of mind. Take the first step to learn more through a complimentary home care assessment. During a Visiting Angels‘ in-home care assessment, we’ll meet with you and your loved one to determine how 24-hour care can deliver the best outcome. Our Select Your Caregiver® program enables you to choose your loved one’s caregiver(s). Thanks to our in-depth care assessments, we’ll suggest caregiver matches that closely meet your needs, making it easy to select the proper care professional for your loved one. To learn more, please contact us at 617-795-2727.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our private duty care, companion care, respite support, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, live-in and 24/7 home care, transitional aid, and home care services in Watertown, Brookline, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. 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, for six years. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their HHA jobs and CNA jobs.

Make Thanksgiving Easier for Your Elderly Loved Ones

Thanksgiving is a time for family and celebration. But when a member of your family requires elderly care and support, you might worry about whether they’re up to a big family event.

At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, our experience as senior care providers has helped us counsel our clients and their families about how they can make holidays, like Thanksgiving, more senior-friendly. We hope the following tips and advice will be helpful to you in making your Thanksgiving Day a more enjoyable and less stressful time for you and family members of all ages.

Choose Senior-Friendly Foods

As a traditional harvest celebration, Thanksgiving is a time for feasting with friends and family. But older adults often have more trouble eating due to dental health, mature taste buds, and chewing strength concerns. If a member of your family requires elderly care, it’s a good idea to build parts of your Thanksgiving dinner around what they can and cannot eat.

Consider making dishes that are easy to chew and gentle on those with dentures. Also, try to cut back on salt in favor of other seasonings. And if your loved one has a Thanksgiving favorite that they might have difficulty chewing — such as turkey — you can help by cutting their food into manageable pieces.

Make Traveling Easier

If you need to travel long distances with an elderly loved one this Thanksgiving, take steps to make sure their ride is a comfortable one.

Seniors are often more sensitive to cold, so consider bringing a blanket if you’re driving and the weather is a little frosty. You might want to make sure they are comfortable by offering a support cushion to help with their posture.

Also, make sure you’ve packed any medications that your loved one might need while away from home.

Schedule Professional Senior Care

With the current hiring crunch, there are more caregiver jobs than certified caregivers in many places. Nonetheless, most eldercare agencies try to keep caregivers available throughout the year, including over holidays like Thanksgiving. If you think that your loved one would benefit from having an elderly care provider with them during the holidays, speak with their agency about scheduling in-home companion care. Having a professional caregiver around for Thanksgiving can help you ensure your loved one is looked after, giving you the chance to spend your day enjoying your time with the whole family.

“Professional elderly care can be a big help over the holidays,” says Larry Meigs, President, and CEO of Visiting Angels. “As elderly care providers, it’s important to us that your family — and your loved one — can get the most out of your Thanksgiving.”

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber home care services for senior adults and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our in-home care, companion support, respite care, live-in and 24/7 assistance, transitional aid, dementia and Alzheimer’s home care, and personal care services in Stoughton, Canton, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Brookline, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities.

How to Protect the Elderly from the Flu and COVID-19

With the flu season upon us and the COVID-19 pandemic surging in Massachusetts, it’s imperative to keep seniors safe from harmful viruses. If your senior loved one contracts a respiratory virus, it is crucial to determine as soon as possible if it’s related to the flu or COVID-19 so that he or she receives the proper care. Being prepared and keeping up with the latest information and guidelines can be your best defense this flu season.

How are COVID-19 and the Flu Similar?

COVID-19 and the flu are viral respiratory infections that are transmitted similarly, either through airborne droplets containing the virus or by touching contaminated surfaces. Both present related symptoms, such as:

• Fever
• Chills
• Dry cough
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea

Distinctions Between COVID-19 and the Flu

Although the flu and COVID-19 are respiratory infections, the same viruses do not cause them. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says there are some critical distinctions between the flu and COVID-19 and recommends the following tips to help you tell the difference between the flu and COVID-19:

• Look at the symptoms
  Some symptoms are more prevalent in cases of COVID-19, such as:
  • Sore throat
  • Shaking/chills
  • Breathing difficulties or shortness of breath
  • Runny or stuffy nose.

A dry cough is often more severe with COVID-19 than the flu. A sudden loss of taste or smell is a unique symptom of COVID-19 not found in flu cases. Muscle or body aches can appear in both illnesses, but aches are frequently more severe in the flu.

• Look at the onset of symptoms
  COVID-19 and the flu differ in how quickly symptoms begin. Flu symptoms usually appear very suddenly, while COVID-19 symptoms generally develop over the course of a few days. COVID-19 symptoms are more likely to come and go or suddenly worsen.

• Get tested
  The only way to know for sure if your senior loved one has the flu, COVID-19, or another ailment is through a test conducted by a medical professional. If he or she develops any of these symptoms, call a doctor and request a COVID-19 and an influenza flu test – especially if your loved one is over 65 or has underlying medical conditions such as lung injury, diabetes, or heart disease. Seek medical attention immediately if your senior is exhibiting severe symptoms, including:
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Persistent chest pain or pressure
  • Difficulty waking
  • Blue coloration of the lips or face

These symptoms can quickly become life-threatening.

Take Steps to Protect Your Senior Loved Ones

Everyone needs to follow public health guidelines to stay safe from COVID-19 and the flu. These guidelines are especially critical for people over the age of 65 because they risk developing serious or even life-threatening complications.

While this flu season is more complicated, you can help keep your loved ones safe by practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently with soap and water, and wearing a mask.

For extra protection against the flu, call your senior’s physician and ask if a flu shot is recommended or needed. Also, make sure all other vaccines — especially the pneumococcal vaccine — are up to date.

If you need additional assistance, Visiting Angels’ dedicated caregivers are available to monitor and safeguard your loved one’s health and wellness at home during the flu season and the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also alert you immediately if he or she develops any signs or symptoms of illness.

Our Visiting Angels case managers are available to discuss your loved one’s needs during a free home care consultation. Contact us today to receive more information about how in-home care can help your senior loved ones!

Providing Safe, High-Quality Care the Elderly Deserve

Our priority remains the health and safety of its caregivers and the elderly clients they serve every day. As an award-winning home care agency in Greater Boston, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton follows and adheres to the latest health and safety guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the challenges associated with COVID-19, in-home caregivers fulfill Visiting Angels’ mission of partnering with families to provide essential at home living assistance for older adults.

Visiting Angels’ in-home caregivers continue to be homecare heroes on the frontlines, taking necessary steps to protect elderly loved ones and themselves and doing whatever it takes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

If you have a loved one who could benefit from elderly care at home, call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton today to schedule a free in-home consultation. A care manager will work with you to choose the best fit for your family member and you.

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 in-home dementia care, Alzheimer’s care, respite care, live-in and 24-hour care, companion care, transitional aid, and in-home care services in Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Stoughton, Watertown, Wellesley, Westwood, as well as Boston neighborhoods including Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, West Roxbury, and Upper Back Bay. The essential personal care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.

Is In-Home Care Better Than Nursing Home Care?

Determining the best overall care for an elderly loved one can be an overwhelming decision. It begins with assessing the pros and cons of different senior care options and weighing relevant concerns such as personal preferences, financial considerations, and health. You may even experience feelings of guilt and doubt that can make decision-making more challenging.

As you consider what to do next and where to turn, the question of whether in-home care is better than nursing home care or an assisted living facility could arise. Here are seven benefits of in-home care:

Familiar surroundings

Perhaps the most apparent benefit of in-home care is that it allows older adults to remain in their homes, which limits disruptions associated with relocation and enables them to maintain their routines. Sudden changes in surroundings or habits can be particularly distressing for older adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Customized care program

Whether your senior needs part-time care during specific hours of the day or 24/7 home care assistance, in-home care offers a variety of flexible scheduling options and a complete “menu of services” that can be customized to individual needs. Your loved one will be matched with a compatible home caregiver who can assist with specific tasks during the hours when care is needed.

Lower cost

In-home care is often less expensive than a nursing home or assisted living facility. Although many high-quality senior facilities offer comprehensive services, this “one-size-fits-all” model may result in your loved one paying for amenities that aren’t needed. Care options provided by in-home personal care providers can save many families money by paying only for required services on the days and times they need them most — without compromising on the quality and availability of care.

Additionally, remaining at home eliminates moving or storage costs that may come with a move to an older adult facility.

The personal relationship with a caregiver

In-home caregivers offer one-on-one care, which helps them develop a more personal relationship with clients. This level of personalized attention enables caregivers to learn about your senior loved one’s likes, dislikes, and interests. This approach also helps caregivers anticipate needs, communicate effectively, provide companionship, and identify issues that should be brought to your attention.

Safety/health benefits

Unfortunately, nursing homes have been among the hardest hit during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Opting for home-based senior care may reduce the chance your loved one catches a serious illness by limiting their exposure to other nursing home residents, caregivers, and staff members.

Privacy

Nursing home residents share outdoor spaces, visiting rooms, dining facilities, recreation spaces — and sometimes even a bedroom and bathroom — with other residents. In-home personal care allows your loved one to maintain their privacy and have access to familiar spaces on their terms and timeframes. Although a caregiver will be invited into their home, our personal care professionals are trained to respect your loved one’s privacy by providing assistance and companionship when needed and taking a step back when requested.

Encourages independence

Your loved one may require limited assistance with specific tasks. In that case, a move to a nursing home could force them to give up their cherished independence sooner than necessary. For example, your loved one may need help with grocery shopping. However, they still enjoy planning and preparing meals without assistance. Your loved one may not have the option to continue planning and preparing meals at a nursing home. An in-home caregiver allows your loved one to continue performing meal planning and preparation tasks independently while helping them receive assistance in other areas.

As a family caregiver, your loved one’s well-being is a top priority. Visiting Angel’s professional caregivers provide outstanding in-home care services for older adults – and peace of mind to family members. If you are considering home care for your loved one, our Visiting Angels care coordinators would be happy to discuss your loved one’s needs during a free in-home care 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 home Alzheimer’s care, dementia care, 24 hour care, live-in care, companion care, respite care, transitional aid, and in-home elder care services in Watertown, Brookline, Stoughton, Canton, Dedham, Needham, Westwood, Norwood, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns. 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.

Reasons to Hire a Professional In-Home Caregiver

When someone you love needs help to manage daily activities at home, it’s essential to take proactive steps to keep them safe, comfortable, and content. For many families, hiring a professional home caregiver is an effective and attentive way to promote their loved one’s health and happiness.

For older adults, mobility issues and other aspects of aging can lead to fears they’ll lose their independence and that they may have to leave their home and community. With the help of a professional home care provider, seniors who struggle with basic tasks, like cooking and grocery shopping, can receive the care they need and stay comfortably in their homes.

Benefits of Hiring a Certified Caregiver

Certified caregivers, such as an HHA or CNA, can assist with a wide range of day-to-day tasks while enriching your loved one’s life in the process. These tasks often range from preparing meals and cleaning up around the house to bringing your loved one to their appointments and making sure he or she keeps up with all of their medications.

Certified home caregivers can also provide discreet support with more intimate tasks like bathing, getting dressed, and using the bathroom. With this assistance, your loved one can maintain their personal hygiene — which is vital for their health and self-image — while minimizing the pain, discomfort, or risk of a fall.

While the concept of inviting a stranger into your loved one’s home may feel unnerving at first, the best care professionals are skilled at building warm, trusting relationships, so their clients feel at ease. That companionship can be crucial for seniors who have grown more isolated at home.

If you live in another area and aren’t able to visit your relative regularly, a professional caregiver can be there to provide daily support. Caregivers providing long-distance care can also give out-of-town family members regular updates about their loved one’s day-to-day life and condition.

Additionally, if you’re one of the millions of people across the country tending to a senior family member, hiring a caregiver can offer the relief you need to rest, recuperate, and keep up with other aspects of your life. Respite care allows you time to focus on your own needs while ensuring your family member has the support they need as well.

Visiting Angels can Meet Your Loved One’s Needs

As you approach this decision with your family, consider your loved one’s preferences alongside their care needs. Does your Mom want to remain at home as most seniors do? Which activities does she find more challenging to perform on her own? Are there times of day when she could benefit from more support than your busy schedule can accommodate?

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can help you address these questions during a free in-home care consultation. Then, we can work together to create a care plan and select the right caregiver(s) for your loved one.

We offer customized home care services that are available at any time, day, or night. Our caregivers assist seniors with a wide range of needs. These include:

• Walking assistance
• Medication reminders
• Grocery shopping and preparing meals
• Transportation to appointments and for other errands
• Laundry and other essential housekeeping duties
• Hygiene and grooming care
• Specialized care for dementia
• End of life and palliative care

Our compassionate caregivers are bonded and insured and have each undergone a rigorous vetting process to verify their skills and experience. Based on your loved one’s care needs and personality, we’ll recommend an in-home caregiver whom we believe will be the best fit.

If you're interested in more information about how in-home care can help your elderly loved ones, contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton at 617-795-2727 today.

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 home Alzheimer’s care, dementia care, round-the-clock care, companion care, senior care, respite care, transitional aid, and home care services in Brookline, Watertown, Dedham, Needham, Westwood, Norwood, Canton, Stoughton, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns. 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.

Contact us today at 617-795-2727 for a free in-home consultation!

Gentleness Is Key to Personal Home Care Services

At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, our personal care program is vital to the safety and well-being of seniors. Unlike companion care, which covers less intensive caregiving needs, personal care provides seniors with assistance for daily living activities such as dressing, grooming, and bathing.

Given the sensitive nature of these activities, personal care providers need special skill sets to perform these tasks. One particularly important quality—that is often overlooked is gentleness. And not just physical gentleness, but emotional gentleness, too.

Physical Gentleness

When you consider the activities personal care entails, physical gentleness seems like a given. After all, you don’t want to be rough when helping seniors in or out of the shower or when brushing their teeth. 

Gentleness may suddenly seem like a tall order. When you help a person into and out of the shower, it takes a great deal of physical effort, and your main priority is injury prevention, not comfort. Meanwhile, simple activities like tooth brushing can be tricky to get right. Even with the best intentions, home care aides may struggle to apply the right amount of pressure or use the proper brushing technique. A mistake in one direction can lead to oral health problems. An error in the other direction can inflict pain during brushing, especially to sensitive gums.

Without training or experience, caregivers can fail to strike the right balance when performing personal care tasks. And seniors who receive assistance may be unwilling or unable to speak up, causing them to endure pain and discomfort quietly.

That’s why it’s so crucial that personal home care providers perform their jobs well and gently. For example, they know how to safely transfer seniors into the tub or shower without causing discomfort or comb an elderly adult’s hair while navigating painful knots. In short, they know how to attend to their clients’ physical well-being without compromising physical comfort. 

Emotional Gentleness

In personal care, it’s not enough to be physically gentle. Caregivers must also exhibit emotional gentleness toward seniors who feel uncomfortable and sensitive when needing personal care, which makes sense when you consider many of the private acts personal caregivers provide. Few of us would feel comfortable dressing or bathing in someone else’s presence. These emotions are only compounded by the loss of independence that many individuals feel in these moments. 

Navigating these moments takes a great deal of emotional intelligence and compassion on the part of caregivers; it’s a critical part of the job. If a client receives care and feels embarrassed or powerless afterward, a caregiver has failed to impact their quality of life positively.

Compassionate caregivers understand this and take an equally gentle approach to the emotional components of personal care. They talk clients through care when appropriate, they stay quiet when silence is needed, and they remain attentive to the emotional sensitivities of caregiving. They also take time to check in regularly with their care recipient asking questions and seeking feedback to ensure they are not overstepping any unforeseen boundaries. 

At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, we are passionate about providing in-home living assistance that is gentle, both physically and emotionally. Our caregivers are chosen because they share this same passion. We take the time to get to know your loved one personally, to understand their needs, and to put them at ease. Dignified, compassionate, gentle home care is always our top priority. 

Contact us today to request a free personal care consultation!

Our Caregivers

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has an outstanding team of Caregivers who work tirelessly to provide quality care to our Clients. Our Caregivers are CNA or HHA certified. They must provide three professional references and have professional experience in the home care field. We perform both the MA state criminal record check (CORI) and national background screening(s) on each potential employee. Caregivers must pass an extensive home care exam and are interviewed at length by two Case Managers. Our new Caregivers complete a full orientation training, which includes a specialized dementia care program.

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 senior home care 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.

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.

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.