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Home Care Services in Sun City AZ: Senior Eye Exams

Why are Eye Exams Important for Older Adults?

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When was the last time your aging relative had an eye exam?
If you’re not sure or if it has been a while, there are plenty of good reasons you should schedule an appointment soon. In fact, since August is National Eye Exam Month, this is the perfect time to focus (pun intended!) on good vision health for your older family member. Older adults are at higher risk for developing several eye problems. Below are some of the common ones—all of which are good reasons for your aging relative to have their eyes checked.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

AMD affects the retina, which is an area at the back of the eye. Specifically, it affects the macula, the part of the retina that is responsible for clear central vision. In addition, the macula allows people to see colors vividly and fine details. Without good central vision, your aging relative may be unable to read, drive, or recognize faces.

Dry Eye

Sometimes the tear glands fail to make enough tears or don’t produce good quality tears. This can cause the eyes to burn, turn red, and feel itchy. If dry eye isn’t treated, it can result in vision loss.

Cataracts

Usually, the lens of the eye is clear and it will allow adequate light to come in. When a person gets cataracts, the lens becomes cloudy. Cataracts aren’t painful, but they can cause vision loss. Cataracts can make your aging relative’s vision blurry or cause colors to seem duller than usual.

Problems with Eyelids

Sometimes older adults have problems with their eyelids, such as drooping or twitching. Sometimes eyelids get inflamed, too. Eyelid problems can cause the eyes to tear, itch, or hurt. These problems are often treated with medications or surgery.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma affects the optic nerve. Usually, it is linked to pressure in the eye. People with glaucoma may lose their peripheral, or side vision. Glaucoma can also lead to blindness.

Elder care can assist your aging relative to get to their eye appointment by driving them there. If the older adult suffers from low vision, there are many ways an elder care provider can help them to stay safe and have a better quality of life. Elder care providers can monitor older adults while they take their medications, ensuring they take the correct ones and in the proper dosages. Elder care providers can walk with your aging relative to make sure they do not fall and injure themselves. And, elder care providers can assist with things that require good vision, like reading, paying bills, and cooking.

 

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

Sources:
Aoa.org
Nih.gov
Webmd.com

 

 

 

Home Care in Sun City AZ: Habits for Good Sleep

Four Excellent Habits for Good Sleep

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If your elderly family member isn’t sleeping well, there are likely many other areas in her life that are not running smoothly. These ideas can help to get her sleep back on track.

 

Regular Exercise

Your elderly family member’s doctor has likely recommended some form of exercise for her, so now is the time to start if she hasn’t already. Make sure that you’re familiar with the boundaries within which exercise is safe for your elderly family member and then put a plan in motion. Even a few minutes of stretching each day can help so very much.

 

Healthy Food Choices

Eating the right foods is what fuels your elderly family member’s body. Too much of the foods that are low in nutrients means that your senior’s body doesn’t have what it needs in order to properly operate. Talk to your senior’s doctor about working with a dietician or a nutritionist. These specialists can help you to choose a diet that is just right for your senior’s current health needs.

 

A Solid Daily Routine

One problem that can plague aging adults is that they may not have much of a daily routine any longer. Retirement can be fantastic, but if your aging family member doesn’t have a general idea of what she’s doing each day, she may find that she wakes up at random times and goes to bed way too late. Help your elderly family member to work out a time that is good for her to wake up and establish some general times for other activities throughout the day, such as meals and exercise. Then set up a routine that eases her into bedtime.

 

Help to Spend Her Energy Wisely

Using her energy wisely can be a huge tool for your aging adult. This means that instead of struggling through household tasks on her own, she allows home care providers to take over. This frees up her time and energy to focus on choosing healthier foods at mealtimes, for instance. She’s more able to have the room she needs to spend her time wisely when she has the energy with which to do so.

Even if your elderly family member is following all of these tips to the letter, she might still be having trouble sleeping. It might be a good idea to talk to her doctor at that point and determine if there is anything else that you can do that might help.

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

Home Care for Hip Fracture Patients

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Skilled therapists are trained to know what your loved one needs most, from exercises and stretches to encouragement and education.

A recent study shows there are at least 258,000 hip fractures among adults aged 65 and older that lead to hospitalization each year. A more disturbing statistic is one out of five people who suffer a hip fracture die within the first year following the fall. Treatment for a fractured hip includes surgery, a hospital stay, and more often than not a stay in a nursing home.

Life following surgery is a challenge on many levels. Recovery is a slow and painful process. Daily activities easily completed before the injury are now struggles. Family will need to be near to offer assistance with walking, dressing and bathing.

Help is a phone call or click-of-the-mouse away. Home care provided by the professionals from Endeavor Senior Care can make a difference when a patient goes home from the hospital and must begin physical therapy in order to learn to walk properly and be able to complete daily activities.

Family members need no longer stress over knowing what exercises to do, how often they need to be done, and when. The emotional ups and downs of caring for a loved one after major surgery are many; personal connections make it difficult to insist on the hard things being completed.

Skilled therapists are trained to know what the patient needs most. From exercises and stretches to encouragement and education, family members can be confident in the care received. Patients will receive the help needed to regain balance, motor skills, and mobility. Occupational therapists are there to help a patient accomplish those daily tasks such as taking care of personal hygiene and dressing themselves.

Remember, you don’t have to attempt to do this alone. If you have a loved one who has suffered a fall, contact us. Let us help. We are the Home Health resource you can trust.

Senior Care At Home: Preventing Falls

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preventing falls - companion care phoenix

Make sure there is enough room to get around the home without having to step around or over furniture or other items such as pet bowls, shoes, or general clutter.

As we age, even the place we know the best can become a hazard. If you are caring for an elderly loved one make sure their home is as well! Knowing what causes falls in the home can help you to prevent them so educate yourself and take steps to ensure that your loved ones are safe.

Always make sure the way is clear! Make sure there is enough room to get around the home without having to step around or over furniture or other items such as pet bowls, shoes, or general clutter. Make sure that all carpets are secure and remove any high pile throw rugs or rugs that are on slippery surfaces.

Clear out any cluttered areas! If the garage, laundry room, or other areas of the home have a high accumulation of clutter, consider re-organizing so that everything is off the floor. The more room your loved one has to walk, the better. While you are organizing, put the most used items in places that are easy to access, for example laundry detergent and other cleaning materials should be easy to reach without stooping or lifting them off high shelves.

Are there any steps in the home? Make sure any areas where climbing needs to occur, including getting into and out of bathtubs or showers, are equipped with grab bars or handles. Having something to hold on to makes getting places a lot easier. Consider the shower area itself as well. If there are no anti-slip features in the shower, buy a mat or have an anti-slip coating applied.

Consider their shoes! Always make sure that shoes fit properly and are easy to walk in. If their shoes are older, consider getting new shoes that have proper traction and support. If your loved one wears slippers around the house, make sure they stay on their feet without having to shuffle or adjust them constantly. If this is not the case consider buying new slippers or having them wear socks with their slippers to prevent them from falling off or slipping.

Another issue to watch out for are the side effects of any medication your loved one is taking. Many medications cause dizziness or light-headedness and could add to instability especially when standing up after sitting for long periods of time or when bending over. Discuss these side-effects with the person your caring for and make sure they take their time getting around the home.

All of these things can add to a senior’s feeling of independence, but it’s never a bad idea to lend a helping hand. Whether you need simple cleaning services or someone to help your loved one around the home, Endeavor Senior Care is the solution for you! Visit our website to learn more about our senior care at home or contact us to receive information about home care and companion care Phoenix and the surrounding areas trust.

Quitting Job for Senior Care – Are there any Financial Reimbursements?

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Leaving work to care for a senior at home can be a decision with many different aspects to consider.

Whеn аn elderly parent suffers frоm illness оr hаs аn ongoing medical condition, іt mау bесоmе nесеssаrу fоr а family member tо tаkе time оff frоm work tо provide at home senior care. Тhе difficult decision tо leave work fоr caregiver responsibilities оftеn rеsults іn financial stress fоr thе family. Whеthеr аn employee mау suссеssfullу claim unemployment benefits depends оn stаtе law аnd thе policies оf thе agency overseeing thе state’s unemployment program.

Understanding Unemployment Benefits: State unemployment programs provide financial support tо workers whо hаvе lost thеіr jobs оr оthеrwіsе bесоmе unemployed undеr sресіfіеd circumstances. Еасh stаtе sets іts оwn criteria tо determine eligibility fоr unemployment benefits whеn а worker files а benefits claim — thіs criteria оftеn includes а list оf acceptable reasons fоr claiming unemployment аftеr voluntarily leaving а job. Еасh stаtе аlsо sets requirements fоr а claimant tо lооk fоr work аnd shоw readiness tо accept а nеw job whеn offered аn opportunity. Іf а claimant nееds tо spend а lot оf time caring fоr а sick parent, shе mіght nееd tо prove hеr availability tо resume work іn order tо meet thе eligibility criteria fоr unemployment benefits.

Providing Care аs thе Reason fоr Leaving Work: A potential claimant shоuld rеsеаrсh hоw hіs state’s unemployment program mіght treat а claim fоr unemployment benefits whеn thе claimant left work duе tо а personal reason. А claim іs оftеn mоrе straightforward whеn thе employee lost hіs job duе tо layoffs оr company closure. Whеn аn unemployment claim includes leaving work fоr а personal reason, whеthеr thе claimant саn receive benefits depends оn whеthеr thе stаtе agency views thе reason аs “good саusе” fоr voluntarily quitting. Νеw York, fоr example, will deny а claim іf thе employee voluntarily left, unlеss thе claim саn shоw а “compelling personal reason.” Тhе employee wоuld nееd tо find оut whеthеr providing care fоr аn ill parent serves аs аn adequate reason. Оthеr stаtеs, including Connecticut, sресіfісаllу list caring fоr аn ill parent аs аn acceptable reason fоr job separation.

Effect оn Benefits Claim: Even іf а stаtе unemployment program accepts caregiver responsibilities аs а reason fоr voluntarily leaving а job, thе worker’s claim must stіll meet аll оthеr criteria tо receive unemployment benefits. Claimants must generally shоw thаt thеу аrе аvаіlаblе tо work іf thеу receive offers fоr nеw employment. Ѕоmе stаtе agencies hаvе denied thе unemployment claims оf caregivers bесаusе thеу couldn’t suffісіеntlу prove thеіr ongoing availability tо work.

Other Benefits Options Whеn Таkіng Care оf а Parent: While unemployment benefits mау provide financial assistance tо cover lost income whіlе providing care, а worker shоuld rеsеаrсh thе оthеr legal options аnd benefits programs thаt mіght bе аvаіlаblе. А worker’s stаtе mіght offer а family-leave program tо partially compensate fоr income lost whіlе caring fоr а spouse, domestic partner, child оr parent. Іn addition, а worker shоuld consider whеthеr thе federal Family аnd Medical Leave Асt offers а measure оf protection іf thе worker nееds time оff tо care fоr а parent. Whіlе FMLA dоеsn’t pay benefits tо workers, thе program dоеs protect аgаіnst employee replacement оr job loss fоr а limited period оf time whіlе аn employee оf аn eligible employer takes time оff tо care fоr аn elderly parent.

Contact us to learn more about your options as a potential caregiver.

Home Care in Sun City, AZ Provides Safety and Care Following a Stroke

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Home care for patients released from the hospital following a stroke, will provide numerous benefits for the client and their family. Home care companions can play a prominent role in the recovery process, which will promote a positive outcome. The effects of a stroke depend on the amount of brain damage. The goal following a stroke is always to regain lost skills and functions. Some people are able to return to their normal life and go back to work. Other people may have permanent impairments, and the home care companion will plan care that will help the patient to regain as many skills as possible.

A home care companion will organize other caregivers to provide a team effort to quickly begin the patient’s recovery process. Almost all stroke patients require physical therapy, and it is usually started immediately.

Safety is an important consideration for a stroke patient. If a patient has weakness or paralysis on one side of their body, then some type of medical equipment will be necessary. This may be a wheel chair, a walker or a cane. Sometimes doorways must be widened for a wheelchair or the doorway itself may need to be removed. When someone is unsteady in their gait tripping hazards must be removed, such as throw rugs and electrical cords. Sometimes furniture must be re-arranged. The patient should always wear non-skid shoes. A home health companion will do a full safety assessment of the patient’s home.

Bath room safety is another important issue. A bathtub chair, bench or rails for the bathtub and toilet may be necessary.

Some patients may have difficulty swallowing. In this case, food must be cut in small bite size pieces or in some case pureed. Nutrition is important, so the home health care companion will assist the patient with food choices that are also nutritious.

The home care companion may also assist with other activities, which include:

• Assisting with medication reminders

• Providing help with activities of daily living

• Providing transportation to the doctor or doing other errands

• Providing the patient with emotional support

• Organizing the daily routines, which involve other caregivers, such as physical therapists

Some stroke patients are unable to speak clearly or not at all following a stroke. A speech therapist is necessary and the home care companion will assist the patients in effect ways to communicate. They will provide the patient with emotional support for this frustrating stroke complication.

Incontinence may also be a problem. There are many products available for a patient with this problem. Comfort is another aspect of patient care. The home health care companion may suggest gel seat cushions, mattresses and bed wedges to assist in positioning the patient. Preventing skin breakdown by using correct body alignment is another priority. The home health companion will fully develop a plan of recovery that provides the best care for the patient.

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

Home Care Companions in Sun City, AZ Keep Seniors Socially Active and Increase Life Expectancy

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Studies show that socially active seniors are about 1.5 times as likely to remain free of disabilities, such as using the telephone, preparing meals and managing medications, or that involve mobility and strength activities, such as walking up and down a flight of stairs, walking a half mile and doing heavy housework.

Adding a home care companion to the mix can keep seniors in that socially active mode even though they may not be able to drive due to vision problems or other physical limitations.

Social Activity and Healthy Aging

“Social activity has long been recognized as an essential component of healthy aging, but now we have strong evidence that it is also related to better every day functioning and less disability in old age,” said Bryan James, PhD, lead researcher and postdoctoral fellow in the epidemiology of aging and dementia in the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. “The findings are exciting because social activity is potentially a risk factor that can be modified to help older adults avoid the burdens of disability.”

So to stay healthy, stay active socially as well as physically, and remember that seniors need to exercise their relationships as well as their bodies. Hiring home care can help with both!

The Longevity Study

Most of us know from experience that having good friends can make our lives richer, but research now shows that our friends may also increase our longevity. The same isn’t true for our relatives.

In a 10-year longevity study of people aged 70 and older, researchers at the Centre for Ageing Studies at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia concluded that a network of good friends is more likely than close family relationships to increase longevity in older people. The research report is based on the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA).

What the Longevity Study Found

Based on results from the study, researchers learned:

  • Close relationships with children and relatives had little effect on longevity rates for older people during the 10-year study.
  • People with extensive networks of good friends and confidantes outlived those with the fewest friends by 22 percent.
  • The positive effects of friendships on longevity continued throughout the decade, regardless of other profound life changes such as the death of a spouse or other close family members.

Why Are Friendships So Powerful for Longevity?

While the study couldn’t say for certain why close friendships have such a dramatic effect on longevity, the authors of the report speculated that friends may encourage older people to take better care of themselves—by cutting down on smoking and drinking, for example, or seeking medical treatment earlier for symptoms that may indicate serious problems.

Friends may also help seniors get through difficult times in their lives, by offering coping mechanisms and having a positive effect on mood and self-esteem.

Could your aging parent use a little more social activity in their lives? If so, think about hiring a home care companion to get them out of the house and more involved with friends and groups in their local area.

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