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woman expressing caregiver stress

Take This Quiz to Evaluate Your Level of Family Caregiver Stress

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woman expressing caregiver stress

Family caregiver stress can quickly lead to burnout if not addressed.

Serving as family caregiver for an older loved one, although incredibly fulfilling, can also cause an elevated level of caregiver stress. The 24/7 pressure of taking care of a loved one’s care needs can very quickly intensify to turn into caregiver burnout – a dangerous condition that can cause a loss of patience and emotional outbursts, impacting not only the caregiver personally, but his or her older loved one as well. Read more

Senior inhalation therapy in progress

Living with a COPD Diagnosis in a COVID-19 World

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Senior inhalation therapy in progress

Living with a COPD diagnosis during the pandemic requires extra vigilance to stay safe.

Those with a COPD diagnosis have needed to stay especially vigilant since the COVID-19 pandemic began, as they are at both a greater risk for contracting the virus as well as developing more severe complications as a result. A current study published by the European Respiratory Journal reported that COPD patients were more prone to be admitted into the ICU, require ventilator care, and succumb to the virus than those without the disease. Read more

Long Distance Caregiver

Long Distance Caregiver Tips: How to Help Older Parents Remain Safe and Independent

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Living at a distance from older loved ones can make the need for home care easier to miss. As a matter of fact, many adult children of aging parents never even realize that Mom and Dad need help until they return home for a visit or spend extended time together over the holiday season. If you’re a long distance caregiver for a senior loved one, it becomes that much more essential to have a plan in place for emergency situations and care. Read more

Caregiver Burnout

Steps to Avoid Sandwich Generation Caregiver Burnout

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Do you have aging parents in need of help to ensure safety at home? Are you also trying to manage caring for children and family at home? If so, you are part of the sandwich generation – a generation of people, mostly in their 30s or 40s, who have become responsible for bringing up their own children while simultaneously providing care for their senior parents. The to-do lists of this sandwich generation are loaded and caregiver burnout can quickly become reality. Numerous family caregivers not only work full-time, but they’re also taking their children to and from school, after-school activities and managing household tasks on top of their caregiving obligations. There are solutions to help caregivers though, and the first step is learning how to make the situation more manageable. Read more

Caregivers Home Care: Why the Elderly May Refuse Help

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As a person ages, they may find it difficult to let go and allow others to assist them. Whether it is pride, stubbornness, or just a desire to do for themselves as long as possible,  there is a chance they will refuse help.

caregivers home care

If you are unsure why the person is refusing help, as direct open-ended questions.

For caregivers, home care for the elderly is a balancing act. It will require them to learn when to step in, and when to sit back and allow the person to do certain things on their own.

Understanding Why They Refuse Help

Ageing is difficult for some to accept, despite it being a natural part of life. The person often does not want to admit they are getting older, or they fear the negative connotations associated with being labeled as elderly.

For others, accepting help can cause them to feel embarrassed, inadequate, or lead to feelings of helplessness. No one wants to feel like a burden to others, and admitting they are incapable of doing certain things for themselves is extremely difficult.

Accepting help from a caregiver can also feel intrusive. They believe the caregiver will take the last of their independence, not allowing them to make any decisions on their own.

How To Overcome Rejections

There are several things you can do if an elderly person is refusing help that they desperately need.

Ask Direct Questions

If you are unsure why the person is refusing help, as direct open-ended questions. Do they feel like it would be a burden? Are they worried about having a stranger in the house? Are they afraid of something?

Be Patient and Understanding

Let them know that you worry, but that you understand why they might not want assistance. It is important to stay calm and show patience. It often takes several conversations to convince them to accept help. Getting angry or trying to force the issue is counterproductive to what you hope to accomplish.

Start Small

Sometimes starting small can help them become more receptive to allowing others to help. Talk to them about hiring someone to help with grocery shopping, laundry, or housekeeping once a week. Once they are open to this, gradually offer more help.

Discuss Options

For the elderly, feeling as if you are losing control of your own life is the most difficult part. Discuss what they would like, and the options that are available for them. Help them to understand they still have a voice and a choice in the type of care they receive.

For more useful information on elderly care contact us at Endeavor Home Care.

Dementia Care: How to Know When Help is Needed

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dementia careIf you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia it can be difficult to determine if it is still safe for them to live independently. Often family members worry but the loved one insists everything is fine and help is not needed. News stories of dementia patients wandering away from home and requiring a search and rescue effort increase concern for family members. No one wants their loved one to become a missing dementia patient. How do you determine when dementia care is required to keep your loved one safe?

First, you should be aware that it is possible to provide dementia care in home. In other words, it is not necessary to move your loved one to an assisted living facility especially at the early stages of dementia. If your loved one strongly desires to stay in their own home it can be achieved. In addition, you do not have to provide the care yourself. It can be exhausting and overwhelming caring for a dementia patient especially if you do not have the appropriate training.

To determine if your loved one needs dementia care you should ask yourself the following questions:

How do they spend their time during the day?

* Are they still able to successfully shop and cook for themselves?

* Are they consuming nutritious foods? Do they need help eating?

* Are they able to keep their house clean or are dishes and laundry piling up?

* Do they keep up with paying bills on time?

* Have there been any instances in which the water was left running or the stove left on?

* Are they able to adequately maintain their personal hygiene?

* Do they tend to wander?

* Do they wear inappropriate clothes for the weather or wear the same clothes for days?

* Do they take their medication as prescribed or do they have trouble keeping track of what to take when?

If any of the above questions were answered in a way that makes you realize your loved one is no longer capable of living independently contact us at Endeavor Home Care. We offer home care services that include errands, light housekeeping, meal preparation, grocery shopping, medication reminders, transportation for doctor appointments, and companion care in Arizona cities including Tuscon, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Chandler and more.

Are You a Family Caregiver in Gilbert, AZ? This Month Engage With Seniors and Learn More About Your Family History

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Seniors have a wealth of memories and family history that they are always eager to share. October is National Family History month! This is an ideal time for family caregivers to devote some extra time to listening to elderly family members relive treasured moments from their past and to share stories that need to be passed to the next generation.

There are various ways to encourage seniors to share information regarding the family history. As a caregiver, you could draw a picture of a large tree on a piece of poster board. Cut some leaf shapes out of construction paper. Write family member’s names on the leaves. Get the person you are caring for to help you place names in appropriate places to construct a family tree.

You could step aside from your role as caregiver and assume the role of interviewer. Get your family member to tell you stories from their past. Write them down and compile them into a family memory book.

Family recipes are true treasures. If the person you are caring for used to be the one who had the best family dinners or made the best cake or cookies, get them to share their recipes with you. You can compile these and make a family recipe book. You might even want to make several copies and give them as gifts to family and friends.

Serving as caregiver to a family member can sometimes seem overwhelming. National Family History month is the perfect time to set aside some time to simply sit with the person you are caring for and browse through family photos. Quite often, the responsibilities of caregivers tend to consume so much time that simple pleasures often get ignored. Setting aside some time to look at family photos and hear the stories that accompany them can be a pleasant diversion from your usual caregiver duties.

Arrange for as many family members as possible to gather together and share stories about their childhood. Be sure to include the young children in this event. This is a wonderful way for them to learn about how things used to be.

Sometime during the month of October, set aside a day to celebrate the senior members of the family. If possible, take the family to revisit a place that has some significance to your family history.

When researching options for caregiver agencies in Gilbert AZ, call us at (480) 535-6800. Home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing caregivers in Gilbert, AZ.

Hiring Caregivers in Gilbert, AZ: The Importance of Safety When Hiring a Caregiver for Your Aging Parent

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 At some point in time, many adults will find themselves in the position of hiring a caregiver for an aging parent or other senior family member. The easiest way to find a caregiver is via personal recommendation from a trusted party or by sifting through the classified ads on sites such as Craigslist. While some money and time may be saved by using this method, it is not wisest choice in the long term.

The biggest issue in hiring independently… is liability.

The family will literally become the employer and as such would be responsible for any medical and disability expenses the cargiver might incur. People who work freelance in the caregiving industry also tend to leave it very quickly and move on, which could create a difficult situation for the family involved. Most of all, it is more difficult to know what the person’s background actually is, and hiring an independent caregiver is taking a big chance on safety.

Peace of Mind

Hiring through a home care agency will bring peace of mind by knowing details such as withholding, taxes and insurance are taken care of. Agencies can also perform thorough background checks as well as drug testing, and only hire dedicated people who are qualified to do the job. When all of this is factored in, the cost is roughly the same as an independent hire.

Training and Monitoring

A caregiver who works through an agency is trained in first aid techniques and CPR and is also insured and bonded. That person must follow rules and a code of ethics set by the agency. If a CNA is working in a home, that person may be checked up on regularly by a nurse to ensure everything is being done properly.

The Right Caregiver for the Job

A home care agency also offers the choice of different caregiving personnel so if one is not quite the right fit, another person may be substituted. Another advantage is always having someone available to step in if the regular caregiver becomes ill or cannot work for some other reason. The family can avoid the panic of calling around for a replacement and possibly missing work or school if one cannot be found.

When it comes to a beloved senior, the safety and reliability of a home care agency is the best way to go.

When researching options for caregivers in Gilbert AZ, home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing home care in Gilbert AZ.