Homecare in Scottsdale AZ: Foodborne Infection Symptoms

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Foodborne Illness?

Approximately 48 million people throughout the United States experience a foodborne illness or infection each year. Of these, around 128,000 will require hospitalization, and 3,000 will die as a result of their illness or infection.

As a family caregiver, it is extremely important to recognize that elderly adults are more vulnerable to foodborne illness and infection, also referred to as food poisoning, than younger adults, and are more likely to experience severe consequences as a result of such illnesses and infections. Being able to detect the potential signs and symptoms of such an infection can allow you to act quickly, get your senior the medical care they need, and help them through healing and recovery.

 

Some of the signs and symptoms of foodborne infection include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach cramp
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea

These symptoms can occur within a relatively short period of time of consuming contaminated food, but can also appear days after. While most of the time these illnesses or infections are mild and will resolve themselves, they can quickly become severe.

 

Contact your senior’s doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms related to a foodborne infection or illness:

  • A temperature of over 101.5
  • Blood in the stool
  • Frequent vomiting that prevents your senior from being able to keep fluids down effectively
  • Diarrhea that is persistent for more than 3 days
  • Signs of dehydration such as dizziness upon standing, a decrease in urination, and dryness of the mouth and throat

Depending on the virus, bacteria, or pathogen that has led to the illness or infection, the symptoms can occur anywhere between 30 minutes and a month after consumption of the contaminated food. If your parent begins experiencing these symptoms, and you cannot relate them to another illness, think back through what your parent has eaten in the preceding several days. If they have eaten at a restaurant recently, it is important to contact that restaurant after your parent’s diagnosis to inform them for reporting purposes.

Getting proper nutrition is one of the most important elements of your senior maintaining health as they age in place. Elderly care can be extremely beneficial when it comes to helping your senior get the nutrition they need on a regular basis.

An elderly home care services provider can provide safe and reliable transportation to the grocery store to stock their home with healthy options, provide reminders of dietary restrictions and instructions from their doctor, assist with meal and snack preparation, and encourage your senior to get enough hydration on a regular basis. This can not only help your parent to maintain better health, but also to support mental and emotional well-being, and quality of life.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Paradise Valley, AZ or the surrounding areas, please contact the caring staff at Endeavor Home Care today. Call  (480) 535-6800.

Source:
Fsis.usda.gov
Cdc.gov

 

How to Get Back on One’s Feet After an Injury

Returning to your daily routine after becoming injured can be quite a struggle, especially if you are among the 10% of the population who have acquired major injuries as a result of an automobile accident. It is important to give yourself adequate time to heal while getting the proper amount of rest. Pain should be used as a signal that your body is being overworked, so if something feels uncomfortable, refrain from said task until you’ve had some injury recovery time.

Key Takeaways:

  • Always be sure to take the proper time to relax so that your body can heal at its own pace.
  • Approximately 10% of those who are in car accidents have what are considered major injuries.
  • Do not push your body to complete tasks that you find uncomfortable following your injury.

“You can take some effective steps to make sure that you get back on your feet as quickly as possible and feel healthy again.”

Contact Endeavor In Home Care, provider of Mesa in home care and senior care in the surrounding areas, at 480-498-2324 if you or a loved one needs help with injury recovery at home.

Retirees: These Are the Best and Worst States to Retire Right Now

A BankRate survey conducted in 2017 has revealed the best and worst places to retire in. The best states to retire list areas such as Idaho, Utah, and even New Hampshire. The worst ones include states like New York and Arkansas. It was reported that over 47% of employees claimed that they would consider moving once they retire, especially if that means living in a state that is much more accommodating to retirees so that they can live more comfortably.

Key Takeaways:

  • New Hampshire, Idaho, and Utah are three of the best states to live in when you are retiring.
  • Approximately 47% of US residents claim that they would be willing to move in order to retire in an accommodating state.
  • Two of the worst place to retire are in the states of New York and Arkansas.

“To arrive at its conclusions, the firm considered factors that may be especially relevant to older adults, including health care quality, cost of living, cultural vitality, weather and well-being.”

Read more: https://seniorhousingnews.com/2018/07/12/best-worst-states-retire-right-now/

And retirees, if Arizona is your destination for retirement, contact the expert providers of companion care in Chandler, AZ and the surrounding areas for a helping hand! We’re available for as much or as little in home care support as needed to ensure seniors in our area stay safe and independent in the comfort of home. You can reach us any time at 480-498.2324.

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Multigenerational Travel: Tips for Seniors and Their Families

Finding a way to accommodate your future family vacation can be quite a daunting task, even though it is supposed to be a relaxing getaway. Some find it helpful to hire a trip adviser so that you can receive suggestions and reservations to places that accurately fit your family’s needs and interests. These multigenerational travel tips come in handy quite a bit if you are trying to find activities that are conforming to both older and younger demographics.

Key Takeaways:

  • It is important to offer activities for all family members, and to allow individuals to opt out if they choose to do so.
  • Since vacation sites tend to be crowded and overpriced during school holidays, go ahead and pull the kids out of school when you go on vacation.
  • Find a way to budget and pay for the trip that works for your particular family.

“According to the U.S. Census, by 2020 there will be 80 million grandparents in the U.S., accounting for one in-every-3 adults.”

Read more: https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/multigenerational-travel-tips-for-seniors/

Contact Endeavor In Home Care today to learn more about the most trusted elder care Phoenix, AZ and the surrounding areas depend on.

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Affordable Ways to Increase Mobility

If you’re retired then you know that money gets tighter, especially for items that medicare doesn’t cover. Even if you have an insurance plan it’s unlikely it covers a power scooter. And, if you have a serious mobility lack, perhaps brought about by a stroke, then a power chair could be a life-affirming necessity for you, allowing you to stay active and involved with your life and loved ones.

Assuming then, that getting one is paramount in your plans, you can try saving. There are software solutions online that will help you set up a budget. There are flexible payment options afforded by various companies that will allow you to extend the cost of your scooter over a period of time to defray the impact to your budget.

If your mobility issues are such that your ability to do the basics of daily living has become impaired, it can be of benefit to contact a home-health agency. Many are covered by medicare. A health assistant can help with things like showers. Don’t forget that there are useful used items available through online sale sites. Look for gently used power scooters and lift chairs. It may also be a good idea to look into financing some home-changes, such as incorporating a wheelchair ramp, or adding bars to the bathroom. Even if your mobility has taken a beating and your financial picture is less than optimal, odds are a variety of options are available to make your situation better.

Key Takeaways:

  • Once you find a motorized wheelchair or scooter you like, your next step will be determining how to pay for it.
  • Your doctor can refer you to a home health care agency Which may be able to assist you with mobility issues in your home.
  • For lower incomes, there may be financial assistance available to make your home more accessible by installing a wheelchair ramp or widening doors.

“The good news is that most power chair and scooter companies offer flexible payment plans and they accept credit cards.”

Read more: http://lovebeingretired.com/2018/07/03/affordable-ways-to-increase-mobility/

Endeavor Home Care’s team of professional and knowledgeable caregivers in Mesa and the surrounding communities can help a senior you love by providing assistance with mobility, transferring and even physician-approved exercises to improve strength and balance. Contact us today at (480) 535-6800 and let us help a senior you love remain safe and independent in the comfort of home.

Caregiver in Gilbert AZ: Caregiver Work from Home

How Feasible Is it Really to Work from Home as a Caregiver?

Working from home may be a solution to your work/life balance problem as a caregiver. But you have to go into it prepared.

 

Carve out Your Own Space

The biggest part of having success while working from home is to have a physical space which you can devote just to yourself and to your work. If this space has a door, that’s even better. You’re going to need an area that you can lay claim to that is just for you to work from when you’re on the clock. Smaller homes can make this difficult, as can larger families. It might be necessary to move some things around to find that one spot just for you.

 

Get Clear on Your Duties

There are plenty of jobs that you can do from home seamlessly. Much of the duties that you perform at a desk job, for instance, can be done remotely via email and telephone. This isn’t true for every job, of course, but your employer may be willing and able to make some adjustments to your duties in order to help you work from home. Get as clear as you possibly can about what your new job duties will require so you can take the next step.

 

You’ll Need a Plan

Working from home requires a plan so that you can meet the needs of every aspect of your life, including as an employee and as a caregiver. Your plan is never going to be perfect and you might find that you have to tweak it in order to get things right. That’s okay. It’s all a part of acclimating to your new reality. Take the time to set up a plan for how you’ll handle interruptions, what hours you’ll be working, and anything else that you can think of that might affect your ability to work.

 

You’ll Also Need Some Extra Help

One of the aspects that you’ll need to plan for is how you’ll handle it when your senior needs help, but you’re busy working. You could just go ahead and remain available to your elderly family member no matter what, but that may not be something that is reasonable. Hiring senior care providers during your working hours ensures that you’re able to work uninterrupted and your aging adult has someone to help her.

Ultimately it’s up to you and your employer as to whether working from home will meet your needs as a caregiver as well as your company’s needs. More and more companies are on board with offering flexible options, so it’s worth exploring whether this might be something that solves issues for you.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering a Caregiver in Gilbert, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Endeavor Home Care today. Call  (480) 535-6800.

parents need assisted living - caregivers gilbert az

Everyday Activities Are Associated with More Gray Matter in the Brains of Older Adults

A recent journal of Gerontology article revealed medical research that showed that seniors who led more active lifestyles, including light physical activity, such as housework and dog-walking, had more gray matter. This is good news, as the brain’s grey matter has the reins to a lot of what goes on in the human body, including mobility, speech, sensing, thinking and feeling. Oftentimes, however the volume of this crucial neurological matter shrinks with age, long before cognitive impairment becomes obvious.

Participants of the study wore a device to measure their physical activity and filled out self-reports as well. MRIs showed the grey matter of participants. Controlling for various demographic differences, it was still obvious that those participants with the most active lifestyles had the least grey matter atrophy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Participation in lifestyle physical activity is good for the brain and may help decrease the loss of gray matter as people age.
  • To more accurately measure the levels of participant’s physical activity, they were required to continuously wear an accelerometer for up to 10 days.
  • Questionnaires can sometimes provide unreliable data on physical activity because subjects can tend to over-estimate or under-estimate their levels of activity.

“The volume of gray matter is a measure of brain health, but the amount of gray matter in the brain often begins to decrease in late adulthood, even before symptoms of cognitive dysfunction appear.”

Read more: https://thirdage.com/everyday-activities-are-associated-with-more-gray-matter-in-the-brains-of-older-adults/