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Caring for an elderly parent can be stressful. Dividing the responsibility between siblings can create conflict as well. It is best to talk about your options ahead of time to avoid tense situations. To ease your way into caregiving follow the tips below:

1.            Be honest if taking the bulk of the responsibility is becoming overwhelming. Let your siblings know the things they can do to help.

2.            Plan ahead for your parent’s wishes. Decide ahead of time how you will divide responsibilities amongst your siblings.

3.            Be flexible when it comes to the needs of your parents and siblings. Consider schedules, skills and interests when it comes to dividing the responsibility.

4.            Research options to determine the type of care that your parent needs and look for organizations and resources that can meet your needs.

5.            Talk and listen to your parent because their independence is important to them. It is best to talk to your family before caregiving starts.

So when it comes to caring for your elderly parents following the tips above will help prevent any conflict. Just be sure to always communicate how you are feeling and make sure your parent’s wishes aren’t being ignored.

Anxiety is a mental disorder that can affect many Boston seniors. Some seniors are actually unaware that they have anxiety issues. This is because many of the symptoms can be confused with everyday ups and downs. However, there are certain symptoms that can indicate that a senior does have anxiety. These individuals should seek treatment for the disorder to help prevent further complications and other health issues.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: GMHF Online

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Finding a caregiver in Boston is not always an easy task. If there are no family members willing to perform the task, it may be necessary to hire a caregiver. Seniors who are in this position should always work with an agency. This will ensure that the caregiver is properly trained, has passed a background check and genuinely wants to work with and help senior individuals.

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

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

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

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

Source: Caregiver List

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Technology and Senior Home Care

New technological developments are changing the world of senior home care. Many seniors have the need for a caregiver, yet they want to remain residing in their own homes. This is now possible by using a telecaregiver. This new system consists of monitors in the home that will help the caregiver ensure the health and safety of the senior without having to physically be present in the home.

1. Monitoring patients at home through use of video is a great way for caregivers to keep an eye on patients, especially those who have a chronic illness.

2. The system uses various cameras that are set up in the home. The caregiver can remotely control each camera to view all activity in the home.

3. By using the computer system, caregivers can communicate with patients. They can “join” them for dinner or just have a way to talk about things even when the caregiver cannot physically be present.

4. Telecaregiving does take privacy into consideration and no cameras are installed in bedrooms or bathrooms. However, if a patient is in either of these unmonitored areas for an extended period of time, the caregiver will call the home to make sure the patient is okay.

5. This is an expensive service, but it is beneficial and allows seniors to remain living at home and not have to have an individual providing care for them all day. The telecaregiver can still ensure health and safety from afar.

Source: FierceMoblileHealthcare.com

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

What is Care Coordination?

Making sure seniors are receiving the necessary care and services they need on a daily basis is an important part of caring for a senior. All seniors need to be safe and healthy, and this is a primary responsibility of a care coordinator. A care coordinator will make sure that all services are in place and that the senior is receiving what they need to function daily. Below is a list of some of the things a care coordinator will handle.

1.    The gathering of information from all healthcare providers. This means collecting important medical information from each doctor that treats the senior.

2.    The care coordinator must be able to effectively assess the home environment as well as the needs of the person receiving care.

3.    Coordinators must be able to find private services and resources that will meet the needs of the senior.

4.    There must always be ongoing communication between all of the parties involved. This includes the individual receiving care, the caregivers, doctors and family members. It is important to keep all those involved up to date.

5.    The care coordinator should also be able to assess daily situations to make sure the senior is in fact receiving all of the services they need to function. If there is something that changes with the senior’s health, changes to the type of care and services they receive may be required.

Source: NFCACares.org

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Information on Nursing Homes

Finding the right nursing home can be a challenge since there are so many to choose from. When making this important decision, there are some key things to look for. Below is a list that contains some important information on how to judge a nursing home. This is a very important decision and will have a huge effect on the rest of the life of a senior.

1. Always ask to talk to the nurses’ aides. These are the people that will be spending the most time with the senior.

2. Most nursing homes will deny this request because there is such a high turnover rate of aides. There are very few nursing homes that staff aides for any length of time.

3. More than 70 percent of aides and nursing assistants will change jobs within the year.

4. When talking to aides and assistants, always ask how long they have been doing this kind of work and how long they have been at this nursing home.

5. When you are able to find a home that has a low turnover rate and a reliable staff, this may be a good choice.

6. The key is to look for a nursing home that has a constant staff. When a senior is in a nursing home, they should be able to rely on people and having the same aides for a long period of time is very beneficial.

Source: New Old Age Blogs

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Men Take On Role of Caregiver

Sometimes men will have no choice but to become the caregiver at home. If their spouse suddenly gets ill, they will have to take on this role. This can be very overwhelming and scary for many men. While this is common, men need to learn how to accept the fact that they are now the caregiver. Some additional information on this topic is provided below.

1. Most men who become a caregiver will take a different approach than a female. Men are more apt to take on executive or long-distance tasks, such as dealing with the insurance companies or making appointments.

2. Men are only half as likely to perform hands on tasks when they are a caregiver.

3. The men who do help with daily tasks, such as dressing and showering may be reluctant to discuss their role. It seems as though they are slightly embarrassed about having to be the caregiver.

4. Many of these men will suffer from depression and feelings of inadequacy when they are a caregiver. This is actually quite normal. They have a hard time talking about their role with others because of how they feel it will make them look.

Source: AARP

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Why Multi-Generational Households are the New Trend

In certain families and in many cultures, it hasn’t been unusual for multiple generations to live under one roof, but in more recent years, that has not been the trend in North America, at least not until a shift began to occur proving that it is in fact a growing trend. There are a number of reasons why there are various generations of individuals living together; from grandparents, parents, and grandchildren and all generations play a role in this.

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

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

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

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

Via: Pew Research Center

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Seniors Need to Love their Body

Accepting and loving your body can be a difficult thing to do. This is especially true for seniors who are still living in a society that is so caught up on physical appearances. Seniors need to realize that their body is their friend. When this is done, seniors tend to be happier with themselves and worry less about physical appearances.

1. Everybody wants to be a supermodel, but for most seniors, this will never be a dream that comes true. To overcome this, seniors need to learn how to love their body. This is done by noting the positive and not dwelling on the negative.

2. Keep in mind that being different from another person is what makes us all unique. If everyone were a model and had perfect features, there would be no personal satisfaction or gain when a goal is reached.

3. Losing weight may help get your body trim again, but it is not the most important thing in life. Never compromise general health for vanity.

4. Looking good comes from feeling good. If you are comfortable with the person you are on the inside, chances are you will have a better chance of accepting the physical aspects as well.

Source: http://www.fromfat2fit.com/articles/a2.html

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Seniors need to be aware of their current health issues. If there are any significant changes, this could mean that there are serious health problems arising. All seniors need to know what signs to watch for because these signs could signify the onset of health problems. The following list contains common signs all seniors should know about.

1. If seniors suddenly lose interest in something they previously enjoyed, there is cause for concern. This includes socializing with friends, involving themselves in hobbies or losing interest in physical activity.

2. When seniors become less active, there may be an underlying problem. It is important to talk to a doctor when seniors begin to be less physically active on a day to day basis.

3. Be aware of how seniors move. If they normally move at a normal pace and suddenly begin to slow down, there may be a medical reason. Seniors should try to remain as active as possible. If they suddenly walk differently, make sure to talk to a doctor.

4. Seniors who begin to lose weight rapidly and have changes in appetite or eating habits could have a medical problem. These changes are unhealthy and should always be taken seriously. Be sure to report any changes in weight or eating habits to a doctor.

5. Many seniors do not walk as well as younger adults. However, if seniors begin to wobble when they walk, this is a warning sign. Seniors who lose their balance could have a medical problem that needs treatment.

Source: http://www.getmommoving.com/warning-signs-for-seniors/

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.