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Sacramento In Home Care Blog

Best Fall Prevention Practices that can Help Seniors Age in Place Safely

6/16/2022

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Fall Prevention In Home Care Sacramento
Photo by hermaion from Pexels
 
Compared to other people, seniors are more likely to experience a fall. However, falls don't just occur on their own. Researchers have proven that seniors fall more often in their homes because of the following reasons: physical or medical condition, poor eyesight, muscle weakness, imbalance, and sudden drop in blood pressure.
 
These risk factors need to be dealt with because falls can cause serious damage to a person's body, such as hip fractures or broken bones. Consequently, the damage can be mental because the senior might develop a fear of falling. As a result, they'll reduce physical movement, which can lead to more health problems. Because of this, we need to implement ways to reduce falls in older people. The following tips will be of great help.
 
Regular exercise
 
Being active will increase your flexibility and endurance, as well as strengthen your muscles. As a result, your balance will improve and you’ll reduce the risk of falling. You can engage in physical activities by going for senior workout classes, taking long walks, and practicing yoga. 
 
Regular eye checkups
 
As you get older, parts of your body will begin to change, including your eyes. So, ensure that you visit an optician regularly to ascertain that everything is okay. Eye conditions like glaucoma or cataracts will be identified and dealt with immediately. Additionally, your doctor will be able to detect if your glasses or contacts are outdated.
 
Safety home assessment
 
Assess your home and make necessary changes to accommodate safety and give you peace of mind. You can ask for professional help or request assistance from a loved one.
 
Consider changing your flooring plan to minimize the risk of slips while walking. Look into the lighting in your home, and make necessary adjustments. You can also install grab bars in your bathroom for support once you come out of the shower, tub, or toilet. Also, if you can, redesign your home to be a much safer space. These changes will not only bring peace of mind and reduce falling risks, but they'll also increase your home appraisal value
 
Get help
 
However common falling in seniors might be, it doesn't have to be the new normal. Asking for help from loved ones or professionals is not a sign of weakness. Being around people who care will ensure that risk factors are reduced, and there will be help in case you slip and fall.
 
For professionals in in-home care in Sacramento, consult In Home Care Sacramento, and you'll get all the help you need.
 
Wear non-slip shoes
 
The type of shoes you wear must give you protection from falling. Shoes with good grip are vital to prevent any slides and falls. Ensure that they fit and are comfortable to prevent any injuries.
 
Avoid alcohol
 
Seniors must avoid alcohol at all costs. Alcohol affects your balance and makes you more susceptible to falling. These falls might cause fractures or permanent damage to your body
 
Consult your doctor about medication
 
Statistics show that nine out of 10 seniors are on medication. That is, 89% of older people are taking prescription medications. If you are on five or more different types of medication, you must visit your physician for valuation on the side effects of these medicines. Some medicines are common in causing dizziness, drowsiness, imbalance, or confusion, which increase the risk of falling. If you take any supplements, do let your doctor know as well.
 
Conclusion
 
It's unfortunate how falling is a common thing among older adults. However, if you implement the tips provided in this article, you'll reduce falling risks by a great deal.
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Is It Time To Move Closer to Your Senior Parents?

2/11/2022

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Picture
Guest Post From Hazel Bridges
​

When you moved away from your parents many years ago, caring for them during their senior years was not top of your mind. However, as your family members age, they may need assistance with daily tasks and activities. How can you tell if it is time to move closer?

Monitor and Assess Your Parents' Physical and Mental Abilities
Make some trips to your parents' house regularly if possible to determine the level of assistance they require. Older adults tend to prefer to remain as independent as possible, retaining control over their lives, so they are unlikely to tell you they need help. You must observe for yourself to understand the scope of their current physical and mental health. The Home Care Association of America notes that more than 70% of seniors will need help with daily activities at some point.

Look for Signs Your Senior Family Members Require Help
Some common indicators that your loved ones may need extra assistance include:

  • Difficulty maintaining personal care tasks
  • Trouble running errands or grocery shopping or completing necessary chores
  • Changes to household cleanliness or clutter
  • Unfilled prescriptions or missed medical appointments
  • Burns, cuts or other injuries that indicate falls or other mishaps
  • Changes in mood, behavior or sleep patterns
  • Unpaid bills
  • Unsafe driving 

Discuss Options With Your Loved Ones Regarding Their Living Situation
Depending on your parents' needs, you may want to consider moving closer to provide routine care, manage essential tasks and prevent potential injuries or falls. Alternatively, it may be easier for them to move near you. Often, older adults live in large houses that are difficult to take care of or have stairs and other features they cannot navigate. If this is the case for your relatives, review possible living choices that better suit them. It can be challenging for seniors to make a move, though, and they may be better off remaining in their homes with assistance or modifications.

Consider Renting Instead of Buying
If you feel it is time to live closer to your relatives, you may initially want to rent a condo, apartment, or small home rather than buy something right away. Doing so makes your relocation process more manageable by removing the difficulties associated with buying a house.

If you plan to purchase a home, it is best to invest time in the process. However, you can easily find a rental property online without having to make multiple trips to the new area. Use a rental directory site to quickly locate a property that suits your current needs and meets your budget. Then, once you are living near your senior relatives, you can search locally for a property to buy. Renting allows you to take your time finding the perfect spot while enabling you to provide care for your family sooner.

Hire Professional Movers
When making a long-distance move, hire professional services to assist with large furniture, fragile items, and heavy boxes or objects. Start searching for a reliable furniture moving company by reading reviews online. Evaluate online testimonials, research current moving specials or discounts, and request cost estimates from a few highly rated companies to find the best local movers in the area.

If you have noticed your older relatives have an increased need for homemaking, medical, companionship, or other care services, you may want to live nearby. It can be incredibly stressful when your parents require aid that you cannot provide because you live too far away. Caregiving is rewarding but also presents many challenges, so take steps to minimize the stress of moving as much as possible.

If your loved one is in need of quality in-home care, get in touch with In Home Care Sacramento to see how we can help. Call us today at 916-702-8552.


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How to stay safe from COVID-19?

7/15/2020

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​Hello city of Sacramento. I hope this message finds you well, or at least as well as you can be during these very scary times. We, the people of this world, are in a tumultuous state. Fear is running rampant along with COVID-19, and even more so now. Hospitals in Sacramento are reporting record numbers of patient admissions related to the Corona Virus. Healthcare workers are testing positive at alarming rates. Some epidemiologists believe this is just the beginning of the virus spread for us here on the west coast. If that is the case, we all need to be prepared on how to avoid the virus, decontaminate if we believe we have been exposed, and know when to go to the hospital. There is still so much unknown about it. For example, do we have lasting immunity once infected? How long is that immunity? What people are at a greater risk of becoming hospitalized? What are the risk factors? These are just a few of the questions that research is attempting to uncover now. Sadly, there have been very few medical breakthroughs thus far.
We here at In Home Care Sacramento would like to try to answer some of these questions in our blog. What can you do to mitigate or minimize the chance of virus transmission to you, and your family?
COVID-19 Precautions In Home Care Sacramento
​A lot of what I am about to tell you, you already know. It has most likely been infused in to you from new stations, the CDC, friends in healthcare, friends not in healthcare, etc. But maybe there will be something in here that you have not heard, so please read on.
  1. Wash your hands and wash them often. The magic number for handwashing duration is 20 seconds, and it does not hurt to go a little longer. Some like to sing the Happy Birthday Song, and that usually ends up being right around the 20-second mark. But beside duration, technique is also extremely important. Several studies have indicated that there is a large amount of the population that is not washing their hands effectively. Certain areas of the hand gets missed or insufficient amount of soap used, are two of the main reasons. Check out this video demonstrating proper technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seA1wbXUQTs
  2. Avoid touching areas where the virus can enter your body, eyes, nose, mouth. This can be difficult to do, especially when you think, “I can’t touch my face, my eye is now itching.”
  3. Keep your distance from those that you have not quarantined with. The CDC recommends staying 6 feet apart. I would strongly recommend staying much farther than that. Some studies have demonstrated the virus can travel up to 14 feet in the air. 6 feet just does not cut it in some situations.
  4. This is self-explanatory but wear a face mask. Put away your pride, it is not about taking your rights away. It is about keeping my immunocompromised uncle safe, your mom with cancer safe, his or her child safe. It is not about you, so stop being selfish, and making it about you.
  5. Cover your cough and sneezes every time. Also, stop using your hand! Hands touch things and when you cough in your hands, you are increasing the likelihood that you will transmit the virus to someone else, if you are infected. See this video on how to perform a proper cough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2jbEetZ8G4 Have you ever seen a video that demonstrates the amount of fluid aerosolized from a cough? It is crazy! Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eQdCvHMY-U
  6. Be sure to clean and disinfect often. Always carry hand sanitizer with you. Every time you get back in your car, sanitize. Sanitize before you enter your home. Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize!
These suggestions are extremely important for your safety and the safety of others. I hope you found some of this information useful. We here at In Home Care Sacramento suggest you get well acquainted with the CDCs website and the information on COVID. See this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
In Home Care Sacramento is still actively providing home healthcare, in home care, and caregiver services to our customers in Sacramento. We are well trained on proper PPE usage as well as mitigating and minimizing the risk of virus transmission. If you need home care assistance, we are here and ready to support you in any way we can. Next week we will be talking about what to do if you think you have COVID-19. You can also visit us at http://inhomecaresacramento.com. Stay tuned and stay safe out there!
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How do you handle an aggressive family member with dementia?

1/10/2020

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Aggression and Dementia In Home Care Sacramento
Anger, violence, aggression, and hostility directed at you, are characteristics and traits you never thought you would experience from a loved one. Sadly, as dementia worsens over time this too can become your nightmarish reality. I don’t know about you, but if my mom began cursing at me and emotionally berated me, it would break my heart. This is also relate-able to the caregiver that is not related to the individual they are caring for because emotional and physical abuse is also common in this situation.  So, having a game plan on how to deal with such issues of anger and hostility is extremely important for a caregiver and something we train our In Home Care Sacramento Staff on.
Fortunately, there are a lot of resources out there to help you cope and a lot of solutions too! Let’s talk about some thing that can help you deal with a loved one or individual that is displaying anger and hostility towards you or another person.
  • Be aware of your environment and search out potential causes of irritation. Often a physical discomfort, like a pillow that is supporting your loved ones’ lower back get displaced causing them to be uncomfortable or a loud noise, can be a trigger. Or maybe there are too many people in the room congesting conversations and creating a lot of noise. Whatever it may be, be sure to investigate potential irritants and solutions.
  • It is imperative that your demeanor and disposition reflects a calm and soothing manner. Feelings can be contagious. If you are irritated and frustrated, it is not difficult to transfer those feelings to another person. Be sure to communicate in a calm way and be clear with your message.
  • Consistency can be your best friend. People like routines. People are more comfortable when they know what is coming next in the day, and what comes after that. No sudden changes or surprises please. Habits make us feel safe and comfortable. If you do not have control over your day, it is left wide open to all the disarray, change, spontaneity that people with dementia don’t like. Create a routine and stick to it.
  • If your loved one begins to show signs of anger and aggression, be sure to give them space. Back off for a bit. This is important for your safety and the safety of the one you are caring for. Stepping back will also give you some time to think of a solution and a way to deescalate the situation.
  • This may sound simple but be sure to take care of their physical needs. Be sure to assess for disease. Often an UTI can go undetected in the elderly for quite some time because, fever is not a reliable indicator. Also, hunger and thirst are important to satisfy. Dementia is confusion; your loved one may not realize they haven’t eater in 20 hours or had something to drink all day.
  • Similar to what you would do with children, attempt to redirect. Try to get them to focus on something other than the irritant and away from the negative emotions they are experiencing.
  • Attempt to understand the irritation and frustration, ask questions, and take the time to be a sleuth. Maybe you can clarify some things and perhaps get them down from their anger by simply asking what it is that is bothering them. Frustration can be linked to the understanding that they are failing and losing their memories.
Home health care has many advantages over the alternatives, but one disadvantage from not being in a health system or nursing facility is lack of support for the caregiver. Caregivers are tasked to care for Seniors for the most part by themselves. That said, experiences caregivers that can work independently are extremely valuable. Understanding and living the solutions described are necessary to success. Believe it or not, senior in home care, home health care, and home caregivers’ roles can be dangerous. You’d think, “well here is this nice little old lady, she’s cute as a button”, not realizing she is quite capable of causing injury to you. Take the time to understand the resources provided. For more information, you can visit us at http://inhomecaresacramento. If you have questions or would like a free consultation, give us a call at 916-702-8552.
In Home Care Sacramento Client
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Why is Home Healthcare good for your loved ones and good for the soul?

12/20/2019

2 Comments

 
In Home Care Sacramento Rehabilitation
​Independence is often not even a thought until one’s independence is affected or interrupted. The ability to care for yourself can change dramatically from one year to the next, one month to the next, or even one day to the next. As you age, you lose the ability to move and groove like you once did. You can easily forget, and attempt to do things as you once did, and perhaps suffer an injurious fall. Or, maybe you are affected by a brain disease that causes you to forget. Maybe you forget your name or how to complete certain tasks, or maybe you forget where you live! Have you ever seen a News Report that states “Missing, 80-year-old man with dementia, wandered outside of his home, missing for 3 days.”? Very scary for the affected person and the family. If you and your family have gotten to this point, then undoubtedly you have inquired in to what options are out there. You probably looked at a Skilled Nursing Facility, Board and Care Home, or several different alternatives out there. My question to you, have you looked at In Home Care, or Home Healthcare? In Home Care Sacramento may be right for you.
Have you ever visited a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) or a Board and Care? If you have, then I am sure you encountered some things that you or your loved one will not appreciate. The last time I entered in to a SNF was to visit my father. The hallway smelled like feces. As I walked down the hallway, I could not help but look in to some of the rooms. The occupants appeared depressed, some just sitting or laying there staring off in to space. I could not help but feel a little depressed too. And to have my father in this environment?! I don’t think so! After a little rehab from a broken humerus, he was released home and boy was that a special day. The moment he sat down in his special chair I could visibly see the stress released from his body. He was no longer in an uncomfortable environment with strangers, he was now in the comfort of his own home with his loved ones. Stress is a precursor to disease. When you dissect the word disease, dis-ease, simply means a body that is not at ease. Stress causes a body to not be at ease. So, when you are considering your options for care, it would be prudent to evaluate how much added stress would you or your loved one experience in a SNF versus hiring In Home Care Sacramento for your at home healthcare needs.
As you age, you lose more and more independence and at some point, you will most likely lose your ability to drive a vehicle. One of our goals at In Home Care Sacramento is preserve as much independence and comfort as possible without jeopardizing or sacrificing what is most important to you. A lot of the people we talk to emphasize the importance of remaining in their home and community. They also hope to preserve as much as their lifestyle as possible, which includes going out to lunch or dinner, visiting with friends, and exercising. All this can be accomplished by hiring In Home Care Sacramento for all your home healthcare needs.
Like the famous sitcom Cheers would say, “you want to be where everybody knows your name”. I don’t know about you, but I live in a community where everybody, or mostly everybody knows my name. It wasn’t always like this. Two years ago, my wife and I moved to a new community development. The first few months were tough. We did not know anyone. We missed our old neighbors and friends. But, as time passed, we began to connect with neighbors and develop relationships. Fast forward to today, some of our best friends are in the community we moved to two years ago. Imagine you or your loved one must move to a SNF or assisted living facility. Change can be hard. Change can also be harder as we get older. Moving to a new home is extremely stressful and if you or your loved one is sick, this could be an enormous burden to take on. Why risk increased disease progression and unhappiness? Senior In Home Care may be the most viable option for you.
If you are reading this you may be thinking that in-home care is too expensive, and you can’t afford it. Or, in-home care cannot provide the same quality of care you would receive in a SNF. Well, there is no easy answers to these questions but what I can tell you is that the cost of in-home care versus a SNF is comparable and in some cases cheaper. Also, In Home Care Sacramento offers the same level of care at home that you would receive in a SNF. This is not a one size fits all, or black and white, because there are so many different types of people, diseases, insurances, etc. Nonetheless, even if in-home care were a little more expensive, which in some cases it is, we are confident the benefits of receiving care in the comfort of your own home far outweigh the alternatives.
We here at In Home Care Sacramento hope that you have found the information we provided useful. Our intentions are to help you retain independence and remain in your home where you are the most comfortable. We can help you achieve that. Take the time today to give us a call for a FREE consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.

In Home Care Sacramento Home Healthcare
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Should you hire a caregiver agency for in home care in Sacramento?

8/15/2019

1 Comment

 
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In Home Care Sacramento provides home healthcare to individuals that would prefer to receive healthcare services in the comfort of their own home. Home healthcare has become a very important and prominent facet of caregiving and healthcare over the last decade as more and more individuals prefer to stay in their homes to receive the necessary care. From seniors that have dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, to people recovering from a surgery, home health care provides a wonderful, and often less stressful alternative to staying in a hospital or healthcare facility. The purpose of this blog is to describe to you the advantages and disadvantages of receiving such care in your home.

Let me first start by telling you a little about myself. I am a Registered Nurse. I have worked in all different types of hospital and healthcare departments from gastrointestinal procedures, emergency room, research, Intensive Care Units, and Hospice. Throughout my career and most especially during my time as an ICU and Hospice Nurse, I discovered the need for a service that provided medically appropriate and monitored care to people that prefer and often yearn to be in the comfort of their own home. The most common theme and phrase I would hear from the people I cared for was, “I just want to go home.” And there is a good reason this is the most common theme, because that is where people feel the most comfortable. On a personal level, I am currently helping my mother and other family members grieve the loss of my father. He was sick and suffering for a long time. He spent time in and out of different hospitals and rehabilitation facilities with much disdain, until he decided enough was enough. Long story short, my father was able to come home and spend his last days in his bed with a view out to the hills that he knows and loves. Nursing care was provided throughout and made his passing peaceful. I am convinced that my father being at home was a huge component of a smooth and graceful transition to whatever it is that is after this terrestrial existence. That is why I created In Home Care Sacramento.

My situation is not all that uncommon and in fact, as baby boomers age, this will be more and more common. People are busy with their jobs and children and caring for someone who is ill or in need of care can be extremely difficult from many different viewpoints. It can take a physical, emotional, and spiritual toll on you and that can be tough to recover from. Also, often times your loved one that needs is located in a different city, state, or even country, making it even more of a challenge to ensure they are receiving the quality care. You could find yourself flying or driving from your location to your loved one’s home or care facility many times in a short period of time. We want to ensure the ones we love are getting the best care possible so we often feel obligated to make those trips over and over again until we become exhausted in the process. But, it does not have to be that way. Give In Home Care Sacramento a call today and find out how we can help.
How nice would it be to know that your family member is in the best hands possible, receiving the care they need, and in the comfort of their home? I am sure this would lift a huge weight off your shoulders as it did for me and the situation with my father. So let’s talk about what In Home Care Sacramento can do for you.
  • Our professional caregivers can be there when you can’t be
  • We help your loved one with activities of daily living (ADLs) like providing personal care with bathing, brushing teeth, and medication reminders
  • Skilled nursing care will be provided from licensed nurses or medical assistants ensuring your loved one receives the necessary medical care
  • Assist with diet and nutrition by providing nutrient dense meals and assisting with consumption
  • Medication reconciliation and to ensure your loved one is taking their medication at the right time and dose
  • Companionship and social interaction
  • Light household chores
  • Research shows that at home healthcare results in comparable or improved outcomes
  • At home care could be a less costly alternative to care provided by a hospital or facility

​This list by any means is not exhaustive. There are many more advantages to at home healthcare and probably the most important that is not included in preceding list, is the fact that your loved one will experience far less stress in their own home versus a healthcare facility. When an individual is able to minimize stress, they have the best opportunity to heal more efficiently than otherwise. Stress is the precursor to disease, and dis-ease, is simply a body that is not at ease. Environments that we know, places we have spent a considerable period of time, provide us with a calming effect. It is these spaces that give us the best opportunity to heal in the best way possible. And that is why we here at In Home Care Sacramento created this wonderful service.
If you are trying to decide how to care for your loved one, I hope you have evaluated the benefits and advantages of contacting a home health care agency for at home care. We here at In Home Care Sacramento are just a phone call away.
Do you have questions about In Home Care Sacramento? Would you like a free home healthcare consultation? No problem, give us a call today. Our caregivers are standing by. You can also visit us on the web at http://inhomecaresacramento.com. 
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    One registered nurse that loves to be of service and help the public determine if In Home Care Sacramento is for you

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