Tips for Staying Organized for In-Home Care Providers

In- home care providers work in an environment that can be stressful and chaotic. To ensure proper, effective, accurate and efficient care for your patient, it is important to create a system that will help you stay organized and on top of the situation. Here are some tips to get you started:

Maintain a Schedule

Many patients are cared for by two or more in home care providers. To ensure proper transition of duties, create a "master" schedule that all caregivers can use. This schedule will list all important tasks and information regarding the patient's care, including time, type and dosage of medications, medical checkups and appointments, room and house cleanup, garbage pickup, garden and lawn work, and other things that need to be done on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

List Relevant Information

Write down all important information regarding the patient's medical, financial and legal care to make it easy to get in touch with the right people when necessary. It is also a good idea to list the contact numbers and addresses of the patient's family members, doctors, neighbors and other persons who could be called in case of an emergency. Make a list of people who provide services to your patient as well, such as community organizations, churches, and repair and service personnel.

Keep Photocopies of the Patient's Medical Information

Any document or information regarding the patient's medical and health history should be easy to access for reference purposes. Make copies of these documents and related information, such as medications and refill schedules, medical and laboratory test results and diagnoses, healthcare provider name and contact number, and the like. With these documents on hand, errors in patient care and maintenance can be avoided.

Record All Calls

List all calls received by and on behalf of the patient including the time, date, reason and information about the caller. Patients often receive calls from their doctors, family members and healthcare providers, each of whom may provide vital information regarding the patient's care. You can use this log as a reference to understand your patient's activities, medical history, contacts and other information.

Create an Efficient Filing System

Chances are, your patient will receive and accumulate paperwork over the course of his or her care. These documents may seem like a nuisance initially but they actually provide critical information about your patient that you will find useful when performing at home care services. To avoid document loss or mix ups, create a simple filing system that will allow you and other parties to easily identify and locate documents when you need them.

3 Signs That You’re Suffering Caregiver Burnout

Caring for an elderly loved one can be extremely demanding.  Sadly, the people who hold these roles often feel guilty about taking time for themselves.  As a result, they begin to feel both physically and emotionally drained.  Moreover, the level of care these individuals supply can begin to wane as well.  Below are three sure signs that you are nearing a caretaker burnout. 

1.  You've Become Increasingly Prone to Mood Swings

It is not uncommon for caretakers to start experiencing fluctuating moods.  For instance, you might feel angry at one moment and depressed and isolated the next.  It is important to know that you do not have to shoulder the weight of your newfound responsibilities on your own. Many families choose to utilize home senior care services, which can be secured on as as-needed basis.  Whether you want assistance with routine household chores, meal preparation or shuttling your loved one to and from doctor visits, in-home care professionals can give you the relief you need. With their assistance, you can find time to take a moment for yourself, balance your priorities and gain new perspective.

2.  You're Constantly Sick

Stress can have a major impact on your overall well-being.  In addition to feeling frazzled, you'll likely find yourself getting sick more often or having a harder time getting over illness.  Make sure that you're getting plenty of sleep and that your diet is both nutrient-rich and suited to your own energy needs.  Although you're constantly concerned about the health and well-being of your family member, you have to achieve and maintain an optimal level of health for yourself in order to remain effective in your role as caretaker.

3.  You're Never Able to Take Time for Yourself

One of the best reasons to use elderly in home care services is the fact that these companies give caretakers a chance to step away from their duties and engage in restful and revitalizing activities on their own.  This is essential for maintaining a positive attitude about your role as caretaker and for keeping your energy levels high.  By regularly pampering yourself, you'll develop a better ability to pamper your loved one.  If caretaker burnout feels inevitable, getting help from an in-home care service will help you get the much needed rest and peace of mind that is necessary for managing your caretaking responsibilities successfully.

Diverticulitis: A Disease Seniors Need to be Aware Of

Most people have never heard of Diverticulitis, which is a problem that can develop when someone eats food that gets trapped in your diverticula. The diverticula are located within the large intestine's wall. Many times, when you have Diverticulitis, bacteria grow in the area and tear the intestinal wall, which leads to infection.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Diverticulitis can include fever, changes in bowel movements and nausea, along with rectal bleeding, pain while urinating, frequent urination and a tender abdomen. Mild cases of the disease can usually be treated quickly with antibiotics and a proper diet though severe cases may require hospitalization. Immediate treatment is necessary, or fistula or abscess could occur.

Who is At Risk

While the disease can plague anyone, older people are more prone to this condition, especially if they eat low-fiber diets or have a history of the condition. Smoking and being obese can also increase the risk of the disease.

If you have a family history of the disease, you should avoid eating certain foods, such as popcorn, seeds, berries and nuts because these can easily be trapped in your diverticula, resulting in an infection.

How to Treat

Sometimes, it is possible to change your diet and reduce the symptoms of the disease though you will likely need to see a doctor. Home remedies typically include using a heating pad, relaxing as much as possible and using mild painkillers.

Ask For Help

Many older adults will require home help services to help them recover from Diverticulitis more quickly. Whether an older adult just got home from the hospital or has ongoing health problems, in home care service from a non-medical home care franchise may be necessary so that they feel more comfortable at home.

In most cases, Medicare covers this care when a doctor has recommended it. It can reduce hospital readmission. Studies have shown that senior citizens that go home from the hospital without any help at home do have a higher risk of readmission within 30 days.

Unplanned hospitalization can cost you a lot of time and money and can be a big ordeal for your loved one and the rest of the family.

Elder Care Assistance: A Healthy Solution for Working Adults

Many aging adults want to stay in their homes as long as possible. But, completing everyday tasks may be a challenge. This is especially true for those who may be somewhat forgetful or may have limited mobility. There are many ways to help an aging parent or relative remain in the comfort of his or her home. One way is to take time from our daily schedule to check on the individual and help with chores like cooking, cleaning or bathing. 

However, many middle aged adults can't take time away from childcare or work every day to attend to aging parents. For those in this situation, one solution is to hire the services of a home care agency, by requesting elder care assistance. This type of service relies on the skill and compassion of home care assistants, who can help aging adults complete tasks of daily living and maintain a sense of independence.

Home care services are not always medical. Cleaning, cooking, bathing, and planning meals or doing the grocery shopping are some of the tasks a home care companion can take on. The level of service provided will usually depend on how much the aging individual is able to do for him or herself. A nurse may still visit once or twice a week, to check the health of the older person. But, for the daily tasks, a home care giver is often the most suitable person.

In home care agencies offer a variety of services, such as skilled and unskilled nursing care, through the use of home health nurses and nursing assistants. But, many agencies also hire home care assistants to help with the other tasks that older people may need help with.

One of the best reasons to seek elder care assistance through a home care agency is security. Employees hired through home health agencies typically have extensive background checks completed before they're hired. They are often trained by the agency, even if they have completed other home care or home health aide training courses.

Home Care Tips to Improve Air Quality for Seniors

Every breath is precious and you can dramatically improve each one for the senior family member in your life with just three simple steps.

Eliminate Mold

Eliminate mold completely. Check surfaces in bathrooms, kitchens and basements on a regular basis as mold grows well in these moist environments. Do not let mold linger as the spores they release can cause numerous respiratory issues and even serious illnesses. Mold is particularly risky for seniors who may have asthma or other respiratory difficulties. You can use a specialized cleaning product or you can simply use bleach to clean the affected areas. 

Clean HVAC Vents and Filters

Thoroughly clean the vents and filters in the home heating and ventilation (HVAC) system. Over time, heating and air conditioning vents can become full of dirt, dust and mold particles. To avoid re-circulating these particles as the air is heated or cooled, be sure to clean or replace filters on a regular schedule. Write the date you changed them on the filter. If the house is in a dusty environment or there are pets in residence you may need to change filters more often than recommended. You can remove vents to clean them thoroughly if you cannot vacuum them in-place.

Keep Dust to a Minimum

Although it is not possible to remove every dust particle from the home, it is critical to dust and vacuum regularly. Dust consists of soil, hair and skin cells, fibers, pollen, mold and other fungi spores and chemical pollutants. Dust can create serious health hazards to seniors with respiratory ailments.

It is important not to simply swirl the dust around with fans. Feather dusters can be culprits, so a better option is a damp soft cloth or a cloth sprayed with an electrostatic spray. A central vacuum system is preferred as it exhausts the air outside the home.

In-home senior care services allow you the peace of mind of knowing your senior family member is getting the personalized care they need, exactly where they most want to be -- in their own home.

A home care agency representative can discuss options with you to determine if in-home care is right for your family.  If you are considering senior care services for someone you love, contact us today.

Stay Heart Healthy for National Heart Health Month

February is National Heart Month, and as such, Always Best Care has pulled together some of the best foods and activities to help your heart stay healthy, so that you can live life and be happy at any age. Here are a few ways you can maintain a healthy heart: Quit Smoking Go for Daily Walks Stay on Prescribed Medication to Lower Blood Pressure Eat a Healthy Diet You can rely on your in-home care professional to help set reminders for you so that you stay on track and avoid behaviors that increase your risk for heart disease. Eat the following foods, recommended by the American Heart Association: Blueberries – Blueberries may be small, but you’re getting big health benefits when you eat them. Blueberries have vitamin C, ellagic acid, anthocyanin, potassium, magnesium, fiber, and a whole list of other heart-healthy, smile-inducing benefits. Salmon – This beautiful pink fish is packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been known to help reduce heart disease with a healthy diet a
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