5 Tips for Senior Care During the Holiday Season

The winter holiday season has finally arrived.  As we look forward to spending time with friends and family, shopping, and enjoying our favorite holiday meals, we also experience some shake-up in our routines. These changes are often more acutely felt by the elderly. Being prepared for the holidays will make your job as a family caregiver easier to manage. It will also ensure your loved one stays comfortable and content through what is often a chaotic time. Below are tips that will help you prepare for a joyful and comfortable holiday season:

Encourage Healthy Eating

Indulging in delicious dishes is one of the most sacred holiday traditions. Not only do these nostalgic flavors bring back marvelous memories, but they also bring the family together in a shared experience that shouldn’t be denied to seniors.

It’s essential to keep an eye on balance throughout the holidays. Holiday meals are special occasions to look forward to, not to stretch out for days on end. In between those rich holiday meals, make sure your loved one has something light and nutritious within reach. They’ll feel better physically and have an easier time sticking to their doctor’s dietary guidelines.

Make Exercising a Holiday Ritual

The cooler winter months often lead us toward a more sedentary lifestyle, even as our calorie intake increases thanks to the holidays. While it’s normal to want to spend more cozy time indoors as the weather cools off, less movement can make us feel more sluggish. It can also trigger a spell of the holiday blues.

Ensure your loved one benefits from exercise by making fun physical activities part of their holiday experience. For example, you could have the whole family bundle up and go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood after each family meal. Or, you can help your loved one get in the holiday spirit by doing a few laps around the mall while window shopping. Spending time in nature and watching the leaves change colors is also a great way to enjoy being active.

Manage Gift-Related Financial Stress

Many seniors love to dote on their children and grandchildren with holiday gifts. Unfortunately, those on a fixed income often feel the financial strain as they struggle with the desire to be generous within their limited means. To minimize stress for all your family members, including seniors, suggest opting for a “Secret Santa” or “white elephant” gift exchange so everyone can experience the joy of giving without going over budget.

Prevent Falls While Visiting Family

The last thing you want is for your loved one’s holiday joy to be marred by a dangerous fall. If they visit other family members this season, take time to practice fall prevention to make the home safe and accessible. This could include removing rugs that present a fall hazard and installing nightlights if the senior stays overnight.

Take a Break

The holidays can be a stressful, chaotic time, especially for those who are constantly on the go. As a family caregiver, it’s crucial to remain aware of your stress levels and take time off from your caregiving duties as needed.

One of the best ways to make your health and well-being a priority during this busy season is to book respite care visits from a professional elder care provider. Being proactive about meeting your own self-care needs will make this time of year much more enjoyable and give you the energy required to provide the quality of care your loved one deserves.

For more information about in-home elder care services, please contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton 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 at-home living assistance, companion care, respite support, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, 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 10 best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion.  Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their CNA jobs and HHA jobs.

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.

Maintaining a Healthy Routine for Your Senior Loved One During COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused many unexpected disruptions in our daily lives, especially for elders dealing with isolation at home and social distancing. The older adult population continues to be most vulnerable to the disease, and family members and in-home caregivers are making necessary precautions to protect senior loved ones during the coronavirus.

While the sudden changes created by COVID-19 are preparing us all for a “new reality,” it’s also important to instill regular routines and schedules for seniors during this time.

Daily Routines are Important for the Elderly

It may be challenging to think of practical ways to maintain or enhance the well-being of older adults under these complex conditions. With some lifestyle changes, your elderly loved ones can reduce their risk of getting infected from COVID-19 and other viruses.

Making sure they stick to healthy routines and remain calm, comforted, and safe has never been more critical. Here are some tips you should encourage seniors in your life to follow as they adapt to new healthy routines:

Get adequate sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for senior health. Older adults become sleepless for different reasons, but their sleeping patterns may be thrown off during the coronavirus pandemic. Make sure they get at least seven hours of shut-eye per night. Visiting Angels’ caregivers can help your elderly loved one establish a nighttime routine that helps them relax and sleep easier and more peacefully.

Eat healthy meals

Specific foods can do wonders for overall health and wellness, especially for the elderly. If they have medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, or coronary artery disease, their physician may recommend specialized diets. With your help or an in-home care provider, your senior loved one can stick to a nutrition plan and schedule.

Stay active

It’s never too late to promote healthy aging for older adults. Regular exercise, including yoga, is an excellent way for seniors to remain active, particularly during social distancing and isolation related to COVID-19. Home health aides can ensure seniors stay active by assisting them with low-impact exercises.

Avoid dehydration

Does your senior drink enough water daily? Seniors lose water content in their bodies during the aging process. They can aggravate existing chronic conditions or create more severe health problems (kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and heat stroke) if they suffer dehydration. Many elderly individuals may not understand the importance of water due to mental lapses or issues. A caregiver must play a vital role in ensuring the elderly consume enough water to maintain healthy levels.

Keep up to date with medications

Seniors need to follow medication instructions from a doctor or pharmacist strictly. A regular at-home medication plan can provide proper daily routines for your senior loved one, especially if they have a life-threatening or chronic health condition. Visiting Angels’ home care specialists can provide older adults with much-needed medication reminders to ensure daily adherence and consistency.

Practice safe hygiene

Good hand hygiene reduces health risks for seniors. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the elderly must wash their hands frequently with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds each time) to prevent exposure to germs. If they need help with personal hygiene, home care aides can assist them with bathing, dressing, grooming, and more.

Connect with family and friends virtually

During isolation or social distancing, you can still see and talk with your elderly family members, even if they live a long distance. Routine calls or video chats are events they may look forward to and appreciate. There are plenty of creative ways for seniors to stay active and keep communicating while maintaining social distancing.

Hopefully, some of these tips can help your senior loved ones, and you establish a “new norm” that is beneficial, healthy, and safe.

Despite the pandemic, elderly in-home caregivers remain resolute in delivering safe and compassionate personal care that is essential to the health and well-being of older adults. If you are struggling and need assistance, respite care services are also available to provide a break for as long as you want. The home-care professionals at Visiting Angels can help you find the work-life balance you need while caring for your senior family member.

If you’re interested in more information about how at-home care can help your elderly loved ones, contact us today or call 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 home Alzheimer’s care, companion care, elder care, dementia care, respite support, transitional aid, and home care services in Canton, Stoughton, Westwood, Norwood, Brookline, Watertown, Needham, Dedham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns. While essential personal 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 for a free in-home consultation!

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.

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.

How to Care for an Older Loved One With No Immediate Family Nearby

Worrying about aging family members is the reality for many adult children, whether their loved ones live alone or with a spouse whose health or memory is failing; however, it’s especially hard when you live far away. You know Dad’s getting to an age where he cannot be entirely independent. What happens when you or your siblings are not around to drop in on him?

With families more spread out than ever, long-distance caregiving has become the norm for many. The upside? Technology and other community-based services, tools, and resources make it possible to create a network of care for an elderly loved one in a different city or state. Here are some ways to care for your aging loved one when you don’t live locally.

Use Video Chat to Communicate

If you’re not doing it already, encourage your loved one to use video chat technology like Zoom, Skype or FaceTime to keep in touch. When you can’t drop by in person, plan a video call with your father — an excellent way to find out how he’s doing. Maybe Dad looks content and healthy but sounds sad on the phone because he misses you. On the other hand, he may sound cheery on the phone — trying to put your mind at ease — but when you see his face in real time, you see how your mother’s passing is wearing on him. As you check in more regularly this way, take notes and keep track of subtle hints he may need more help or signs that he is lonely and may need some friendly visitors.

Make a Family & Friend Visit Schedule

Social isolation is one of the biggest pitfalls of growing older at home. For many aging couples, even caregiving can result in isolation, despite not being alone. As your Mom cares for your father through a dementia diagnosis, both can suffer socially. She may start to feel internally isolated as the man she’s loved for decades starts changing. The relationship becomes less of a partnership and more of stewardship.

It is also harder to stay connected to friends; seniors may receive fewer visitors while getting out into the community less frequently.

Friendly visitors — relatives, good friends, neighbors or even volunteers from a local community organization – can provide the companionship a lonely loved one needs. Try to keep a calendar of who is coming and when so that visitors honor their commitments and do not randomly show up unannounced. Don’t have any cousins or relatives to call? Contact your parent’s local Area Agency on Aging to learn about organizations that provide these types of visits.

Automate Bills & Pills

The advent of secure online banking, and prescription delivery services, means you don’t always have to sit at Mom’s desk to help renew her prescriptions or pay her bills. It may be helpful to get everything set up in person first when you are in town (maybe even visiting Mom’s local bank branch and pharmacy to touch base) but then automate as much as possible so you can manage it when you return home.

It’s important not to gloss over this vital part of senior care. Our elderly loved ones – especially those facing declining mental faculties – can and will forget about things like medication and bills. Save your parent time and lots of money in charges by ensuring their obligations are automated. For prescriptions, consider professional help as prescription management will aid your loved one and possibly avoid costly hospital admission.

Shop & Ship Online

If Dad needs an abundant supply of incontinence products and he has trouble getting to the grocery store, Amazon Prime and grocery delivery services through significant stores like Target, Instacart or Peapod can step in when you are not around. Some of these online shopping options offer discounts on repeat items, so if you know Dad needs adult diapers every two months, you may be able to save some money by setting up recurring orders.

Foster Community Engagement Opportunities

Set up Uber transportation or a city transit ride so Mom can go to the library or her favorite hairdresser once a month. Reach out to your parents’ community center, if possible, to find out what support services they might offer for older adults who don’t have family in the area. If your Dad still drives, research local volunteer opportunities that may help him get out of the house for a bit and stay socially connected.

You may not imagine it a necessity, but know that your parent may not know how to become socially involved with others, despite feeling lonely. Aging can take a toll on our loved ones, and they may feel increasingly less motivated to leave the house. That’s when your encouragement is helpful.

Add a Professional Caregiver to the Team

Distance does make things a little more complicated when your parents are aging as it is not always realistic for you to move closer to them or to uproot them and bring them to your home territory. There are ways to foster their independence and success at home. Once you’ve built a care network through the avenues described above, you may also want to consider a professional caregiver from a trusted home care provider.

What can a professional caregiver do to help? There is a wide range of non-medical home care services available, from meal prep and laundry, to help with light housework, to medical appointment transportation and more — some partner with a professional caregiver solely for the companionship benefits. Moreover, you can still organize and coordinate this care, even if you don’t live locally.

A professional home caregiver can be your eyes and ears on Dad, or the extra hands Mom needs around the house. To learn more, visit visitingangels.com/newton.

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.

Home Caregivers Can Be Your Eyes and Ears for Your Loved Ones

https://www.visitingangels.com/newton/faq

Your Mom and Dad may be enjoying their golden years, but as time goes on, issues may naturally arise. Maybe Mom has a slow-progressing eye condition and is gradually losing her independence. Alternatively, Dad has begun to forget the names of you and your siblings randomly. Which may be a sign he is experiencing the early stages of dementia.

It is natural to become anxious and concerned when you start to notice these changes. Your instinct may be to step in and care for your parent. However, you can't neglect balancing other needs: a full-time job, children, and family. Self-care can quickly become an occasional priority as you are trying to juggle your personal life simultaneously while helping your aging loved one. Too many pressures can cause you to burn out both emotionally and financially.

It is essential to understand Mom or Dad’s conditions as their needs evolve. It is nearly impossible to gauge the level of care your loved one will need, even if you have become their primary caregiver. The natural aging process can expose your parent to a range of health issues, and certain conditions may remain undiagnosed until there is an injury or illness.

Maybe you’ve thought about asking your parent to move in with you. However, most elderly would like to age in place and maintain their independence. Per a joint report by the Home Care Association of America and Global Coalition on Aging: “Nine out of ten Americans 65 and older want to stay at home for as long as possible, and 80 percent think their current home is where they will always live.”

Technology is not Enough

You may think using smart telehealth devices or installing a home-monitoring system is the answer. However, stand-alone technology can hardly replace the expertise of a trained professional such as an HHA or CNA who has cared for older adults just like your parents.

Even if you’re seeing Mom and Dad on a regular basis, it doesn’t mean you can manage the care alone. For instance, severe mood swings may not manifest in an elderly until sundown, a time when you’re likely to feel drained from a long day. During moments of irritability and high-agitation, your parent can’t depend on a digital health device to restore a sense of calm; however, a trained, professional caregiver can be a calming presence, and be your eyes and ears for Mom and Dad when you can’t be there.

Emotional Safety and Physical Security

A quality home care provider can address safety before it's too late. For example, if your parent is losing balance, your mom’s professional caregiver has been trained to “fall-proof” the home.

Further, this person can serve as a human firewall. Lonely seniors become easy prey for fraudsters. An unsuspecting elderly adult is a target for scam artists. Make sure your elderly loved one doesn’t end up a victim. Every day, scammers are trying to gather personal information and are banking on confused seniors to give it to them. Fraudsters may try to engage a lonely senior who is hungry for more interaction. It’s just another scenario where a caregiver can mitigate potential harm for your loved one.

Professional Care after a Hospital Visit

If your mom or dad was recently discharged from the hospital, it is imperative to provide specific care to help prevent costly readmission. Quality in-home care services can dramatically reduce the chances of your loved one relapsing or getting re-injured. Around-the-clock care for the first month after hospital discharge is always recommended. Elderly adults have a much lower chance of recovery if they are re-hospitalized in this 30-day window, which is why reducing hospital readmissions is crucial.

Will you be around to ensure your parent strictly adheres to a doctor’s discharge care plan? If not, you can rely on a professional caregiver to follow the medical directive and care plan, keeping your loved one safe and out of the hospital.

What about if the doctor assigns Mom or Dad a meal plan? Will you be there to prepare the recommended foods for your parent?  Professional caregivers will prepare nutritious meals for your loved one as part of their routine.

It is no secret that early detection is the key to better health outcomes. While caregivers are not medical professionals, they do possess the education and experience necessary to recognize initial signs of dementia, Alzheimer's or symptoms of depression. They can be your eyes and ears while working extra hard to foster a positive attitude in your loved one.

A home care provider is an objective third-party who takes a measured approach. Should there be a problem, you won't lose precious time before addressing the issue.

Hire a Caregiver from a Reputable Homecare Agency

No doubt you wish to hire a caregiver that you can trust to care for your loved one. That means professional skills, experience, and an attitude of respect and compassion towards the elderly. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has an outstanding team of caregivers who are CNA or HHA certified. Each has at least three years’ professional experience in the field of home care services. 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. We provide continuous support with events, training, and awards. We even take care to assign caregivers that fits the personality traits of our clients to ensure the best outcome.

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 elderly 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 Needham, Dedham, Canton, Stoughton, Newton, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Wellesley, Westwood, Watertown, Natick, Roslindale, Norwood, and nearby towns. While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a positive impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. Call us at 617-795-2727 for information or visit our website at https://visitingangels.com/newton.

Helping Your Senior Loved One Battle the Holiday Blues

For many, the holidays are the best time of year filled with family get-togethers, feasts and fun traditions; but for seniors, this can be the most depressing of all seasons as they pine for lost loved ones. And in a lot of cases, with family miles away, seniors struggle to decorate, shop, and prepare a meal. They struggle with feeling sad that they can’t move around as easily as they did when they were younger.

Visiting Angels, one of the largest in-home senior care companies in the nation, offers local families the vital service of hiring senior loved ones a holiday companion. Don’t know what to get Grandma or Grandpa for Christmas? How about a friend, or better yet, an angel - a Visiting Angel that is! A holiday companion is also a priceless gift that adult children can give themselves this year – Visiting Angels can provide them with a professional caregiver to tend to their senior loved ones’ every need as they prepare for a house full of guests or holiday event.

Roughly one in four seniors (age 65 or older) suffers from depression. More than 70 percent of older Americans feel isolated and lonely*. And, nearly one-third of all non-institutionalized older Americans live alone** (more depression information included below).

“The holidays can be tough on seniors because many have lost people they loved. Plus, they aren’t as mobile to visit friends and family or even decorate or shop,” says Larry Meigs, CEO of Visiting Angels. “Our caregivers socialize with seniors, take them visiting and keep them engaged instead of sitting at home feeling isolated and depressed. Plus, our caregivers give families the heads up about their senior’s state-of-mind, to differentiate between the holiday blues and full-blown depression.”

The Holiday Blues vs. Senior Depression

The holiday blues are often temporary and dissipate when the season ends. The holiday blues are also associated with the time change – as daylight hours become shorter. If the blues continue after the season, it could be a warning sign of depression.

Senior depression is often mistaken for other age-related issues. In fact, stress-related events such as the holidays may trigger half of all depressive episodes, according to the U.C. Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
 
Common signs of senior depression include***

• Lack of appetite
• Extreme fatigue – excessive sleeping. The body shuts down to escape from the outside world.
• Problems concentrating
• Anti-social – may stop doing normal things such as going to church.
• Older adults may not express sadness (unlike kids with depression).
• Abuse of drugs or alcohol
• Being angry – sarcastic and criticizes others’ joy of the season.

How Angels Help Seniors Beat the Holiday Blues

Encourage seniors to exercise – Various studies reveal that staying physically active not only makes people feel good, but it has the same effect on mood and brain chemistry as antidepressants.

Keep alcohol use to a minimum – Alcohol is a known depressant. Visiting Angels caregivers can create some other festive drinks such as eggnog or a flavored hot chocolate to help seniors cheerfully toast to the season.

Don’t feel obligated to buy lots of gifts – Giving certainly can make you feel good but in times of financial despair, giving gifts can create a lot of stress. Instead, Visiting Angels caregivers can help seniors write and send personalized cards to family and friends.

Stay connected socially – Volunteer at a soup kitchen (or other organization) with a caregiver – giving back greatly improves people’s moods and increases their sense of self-worth. Caregivers can also teach seniors how to use computers or cell phones to stay socially connected with family and friends. They can take seniors to a local coffee shop or to look at Christmas lights for some holiday cheer outside the home.

Be a good listener – Sometimes all it takes to help a senior with the holiday blues is to simply listen. Through conversation, caregivers can help seniors live in the present (instead of dwelling on “the good old days”) and keep their holiday expectations realistic.

Caregivers also cook, clean, drive seniors to doctors and stores, and even help decorate! Get a professional caregiver for your senior loved one today!


*University of Michigan study, 2005
**Administration on Aging (2010 data).
***Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton senior home care agency provides high 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 elderhome 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 big impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Call us today at 617-795-2727 for more information.

Take the Pressure Off with Respite Senior Home Care

Summary:  There are many responsibilities when caring for an aging loved one and sometimes family members cannot be there all the time.  Senior home care services from Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can provide a much-needed respite for families.

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Many adult children are finding themselves in the role of primary caregiver for their aging parents (and other family members).  There tends to be a great struggle to find the balance between juggling their own families, careers, and the responsibilities of caring for their parent(s).  When at all possible, it is advised to seek support and ways to incorporate personal time and wellbeing into the caregivers’ schedule.  Visiting Angels Newton/Canton respite senior home care is helpful with daily tasks, overnight support, and live-in care.

A home health aide can take over tasks such as household maintenance and daily chores. Your Visiting Angels Newton/Canton caregiver can assist with bathing and grooming, changing of linens, and laundry, preparing meals, and helping your loved one prepare for bed. Having the help of a home health aide brings a substantial difference and much-needed balance and piece of mind to the family and senior receiving the care.

In addition to chores and keeping up with household duties, maybe a challenge is overnight care, or even being responsible for someone who lives out of town.  It is not unusual for loved ones to live in other states and countries, making transition challenging and decision making an immediate priority.  If the adult child who is responsible for their parent lives out of town, how will their loved one get to a doctor’s appointment, have a companion to check in on them, or take their proper medication?  Hired elderly home care is available, offering caring, secure, and trained caregivers.  You may only need home care at night, so your loved one is not alone and has assistance as needed.  Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can provide overnight coverage as well as live-in caregivers, offering 24 hour a day, seven days a week coverage. 

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides caring, at-home caregivers offering respite for families, alleviating the stress of trying to balance career and family. Using Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s services can assist with learning how to function in a new and unfamiliar role as caregiver to a parent.  Our caregivers allow the maintenance of a family’s schedule while providing personalized home care to their loved one. 

If you are looking for home care services in Brookline, Watertown, Newton, Canton, Wellesley and nearby areas, call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton at 617-795-2727 for a free in-home consultation. 

In-Home Care Service Helps Dad Take Care of Mom

 According to 2015 statistics from the Pew Research Center, about 7 percent of spouses are caring for a partner. Although it may seem like the ideal arrangement, in reality, it’s very difficult for many caregiving partners to recognize the need for help and accept it before it’s too late. Spousal caregivers (aged 66-96) who experience caregiving-stress have a 63 percent higher mortality rate than non-caregiving peers, per a report from the Family Caregiver Alliance.

Family Caregiving is Hard Work

It’s easy to think of your parents as keeping each other company at home, but as spousal and family caregivers become more focused on the care receiver over time, they inadvertently cut off contact with friends and sometimes even family. They stop going to church, the library or out to their favorite restaurants. If your father is feeling lonely or depressed while caring for your mother, what kind of care will he be providing?

Caregiving can take an emotional toll on the family caregiver because they are watching the person they love suffer from an illness, injury or disease. A spousal caregiver who feels inadequate to meet his spouse’s needs may feel a sense of guilt, failure, frustration. If the spouse’s personality has changed due dementia or another diagnosis, he may find himself struggling to feel love or compassion towards his partner.

The house itself also tells the story of how caregiving has affected your parents. Dad can’t maintain the level of cleanliness he is used to if he’s afraid to leave Mom alone in a room for more than five minutes. Laundry may pile up, and bills, too.

Family caregiving is hard work, emotionally, physically, and mentally. When one spouse takes on the hard work of managing a household along with their loved one’s daily care needs—all the while dealing with the roller coaster of emotions this role brings—that spouse is at risk of burnout and even early death. To give care, you must take care. To provide the best care, you must care for yourself in the best possible way.

How In-Home Senior Care Helps

Senior home care services helps caregiving couples and the families who love them by providing companionship, light housekeeping, transportation, meal prep, grooming, bathing and help with activities of daily living.  Homecare aides do not replace the vital work of the spousal caregiver. They complement it and enable it to go on for as long as possible. They lighten the load of caregiving so that family caregivers can work through grief as they provide care to their loved ones.

That said, you should always present the idea of home care support as a way for both parents to stay healthy and at home for as long as possible, affirming the value of the care they’re already providing and suggesting the benefits will go both ways—because they do.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides professional and compassionate in-home care services in Brookline, Watertown, Newton, Needham and nearby areas. We have received the Best of Home Care Leader of Excellence Award from Home Care Pulse four years in a row! For more information on why your elderly parent needs more help than a friend or family caregiver can provide, call us at 617-795-2727 or contact us today!