Elderly Care in Mesa AZ: Finding the Best Doctor

Finding the Best Doctor for Your Mom’s Changing Health Needs

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As your mom gets older, her medical needs may change. At one point, her visits to the doctor would have been geared toward OB/GYN care and yearly medical exams. Now, she needs to have her bone density checked. She might need memory care visits or help with proper nutrition as she ages. She could be moving to be closer to you and needs a doctor nearby.

If your mom has outgrown her doctor or needs one in a new location, she’s not alone. Moving her to another doctor who specializes in elder care is a big change, but it can be a beneficial change. If you need to make a change, here are some ways to make the transition go smoothly.

 

Read Reviews

Look online for reviews. You can get a feel for a doctor’s personality and skill. Remember that people may emphasize the bad. See if there are follow-up reviews to get a full picture.

Look for patterns. If you find a doctor has dozens of reviews saying there are billing errors, it’s likely that’s true. If there are dozens of reviews calling the doctor friendly and approachable and one that says the doctor is standoffish, it’s more likely that the friendly and approachable aspect is true.

Read reviews in several spots. Google, Yelp, Facebook, and Healthgrades are all places to start. Look specifically for verified reviews that prove the reviewer really did see that doctor.

 

Ask for Referrals

If your mom likes her doctor, ask that doctor for a referral. The doctor may not specialize in geriatric care but knows someone who. Ask friends and family members for suggestions, too. When you have suggestions, start reading reviews.

 

Look at Office Hours

There’s a doctor in the right area who gets great reviews. You look at the office hours and the doctor is only at that location until noon. That might not be convenient if you’re the person who drives your mom to appointments and works during the week.

 

Schedule an Introductory Meeting

Schedule a meeting to meet the new doctor. Your mom can ask questions and make sure she likes the new doctor. If there is a personality clash, it’s better to know before you schedule a full medical exam.

With a doctor you and your mom can trust, a caregiver can cover the aspect of socialization when aging at home. Elder care services like companionship and transportation ensure your mom is able to spend time with other seniors and with someone each day at home.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring elderly care in Mesa or the surrounding area, please contact the caring staff at Endeavor Home Care today. Call  (480) 535-6800.

spine injury recovery - chandler az elder care

How to Help Elderly Adults After Spine Surgery

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When an elderly relative suffers from tremendous back pain, their doctor often recommends spine surgery. It is most often done for those who have herniated disks or bone spurs on the spine. The good news is that back surgery often relieves the conditions that cause the chronic pain. However, the recovery time for spine surgery can make it a real challenge for elderly adults to live on their own and take care of themselves.

Family caregivers can do a lot for their elderly relative during the spine injury recovery time, but they can’t always be there all day and all night. To ensure the aging loved one is well-cared for as they heal from spine surgery, many family caregivers hire home care providers to assist.

Here are some of the reasons why spine injury recovery often requires an in-home care provider.

Medication Reminders

Pain is a big part of any recovery from surgery, and seniors will need some painkillers along with their regular medication. However, it can be difficult to remember when to take the medications and how much. While a home care provider cannot administer the medication, they can give reminders, read bottle labels and provide water. Staying on top of the pain via prescribed medicine will certainly aid in recovery.

 

Avoid Blood Clots

One of the biggest dangers post-surgery is if seniors develop blood clots. They need to get up and walk around frequently, turn and shift their weight often and do stretches and exercises as needed to keep their circulation going. Home care providers can encourage movement, support the elderly adult in getting around, and report any problems to family members.

 

Self-Care Help

With spine surgery, the aging adult won’t be able to bend, twist or even lean over for many weeks. This makes it very hard to bathe, shower, get dressed, use the toilet and more. A home care provider can be there to help, and also suggest adaptive tools that can make things easier, like a shower chair and raised toilet.

 

Housekeeping

Even if the elderly person did well on their own before the surgery, they won’t be able to do much in the weeks following. Home care providers can pitch in and give additional support at home, like cooking, cleaning, laundry, pet care, and even grocery shopping.

 

Transportation

Seniors recovering from spine surgery can’t drive under doctor’s orders, yet they still need to get around. Home care providers can drive the elderly person to their follow-up appointments, to visit with friends or to run an errand or two.

It doesn’t matter what type of spine surgery the elderly adult had, recovery can last anywhere from two to six months. During this time, the aging adult really needs to have a helping hand for their needs. If seniors are cared for by a dedicated professional that can help them maximize their recovery time, they’ll be more comfortable, safe, and well.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a caregiver, please contact the caring staff at Endeavor Home Care today. Call  480-498-2324 to talk with our experts providing senior home care in Chandler, AZ and the surrounding areas.