Caring for Seniors in Houston & Southeast Houston Prepare for Emergencies - continued from August 27th post.  Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston at 281-484-0200.

4.  Know where to get information during an emergency, either through the local television, radio or NOAA weather radio.  Have available a battery-operated radio.  Different alarms are available to  notify people with medical conditions of impending disaster, such as a strobe alarm for the hearing-impaired.

5.  Discuss multiple escape routes.  Like all families and households, seniors should develop at least two escape routes, one out of their home in case of a fire when  they need to get out of the home quickly and out of the area in case they need to evacuate their community.  (The local emergency management office can tell you escape routes out of the community.)  Designate a place to meet other relatives or key support network people outside the house,as well as a second location outside the neighborhood, such as a school or church.  Practice the plan at least twice a year.

6.  Know when to go or to stay and how to make the decision to stay or leave.  When deciding to evacuate, older adults should go sooner rather than later.  By waiting too long, they may be unable to leave if they require assistance from others.

7.  Assemble a disaster supplies kit.  Have an easy-to-carry kit containing three days worth of non-perishable food and water, with an extra four days of food and water readily accessible at home (have at least one gallon of water per person per day.)  Bottled water may be easier to store and carry.  Refresh/replace your supplies at least twice a year.

Long Term Care Planning - Home health care & senior care in Southeast Houston - Senior Planning in Southeast Houston, Pasadena, Clear Lake, Baytown, Friendswood, Texas  -  Call us today at (281) 484-0200.

10 WAYS TO HELP SENIORS PREPARE FOR DISASTER

Following are 10 ways that seniors, their families and caregivers can prepare for a natural disaster, according to Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston and the American Red Cross:

1. Be informed.  Contact the local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter to learn about the most likely natural disasters to strike your area.

2.  Complete a personal assessment.  A senior should determine what he or she can or can’t do before, during and after a disaster.  Make a list of those needs and resources that can meet them.  For assistance in completing this assessment, contact your local American Red Cross chapter.

3.  Make a plan.  Schedule a family meeting to assess your needs in an emergency and develop a plan of action.  Include in your plan key people in your life – such as neighbors, friends, relatives and professional caregivers – who could help.  Remember to include pets.

MANY SENIORS HAVEN’T CLAIMED ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT

There’s still time for people who haven’t claimed their economic stimulus checks to do so. Nationally, more than 5 million people, including senior citizens, haven’t filed for their checks. In order to receive their economic stimulus payment of $300 for individuals and $600 for married couples, persons who normally aren’t required to file a tax return because of low incomes must file this year. 

The deadline to file is Oct. 15. The IRS is sending reminders to people who haven’t filed. Friends, relatives and caregivers of elderly and disabled persons can help by checking to see if the stimulus checks have been received. If a claim was never made, they may need to help with the filing process.

Long Term Care Planning - Home health care & senior care in Southeast Houston - Senior Planning in Southeast Houston, Pasadena, Clear Lake, Baytown, Friendswood, Texas  -  Call us today at (281) 484-0200.

Long Term Care Planning - Home health care & senior care in Southeast Houston - Senior Planning in Southeast Houston, Pasadena, Clear Lake, Baytown, Friendswood, Texas  -  Call us today at (281) 484-0200.

Aging Americans continue to live independently well into their latter years. While they may be in good health today, their increasing age presents a greater risk that a medical emergency could occur while in their own home.

As a result, it is important that their home environments are made safe and secure to avoid accidents, and that plans are in place should an emergency occur while they are home alone.

Consider installing grab bars in the home, especially the bathrooms, to assist with balance and help prevent falls.  Transfer benches, hand-held shower devices and non-slip mats are other helpful tools to keep seniors safe in when bathing.

Ensure that someone is available to help with routine household duties such as repairs and housework so a senior does not attempt tasks that are outside of their physical capabilities; a family member can help with this, or a regular cleaning service can be arranged. Daily phone calls should be made by family or friends so it can be ensured that he/she is safe; or there are non-medical home care services available which can come by the home to assist and check in.

Personal Response System services are also available, which monitor the safety of elders 24 hours a day and provide personal alarms which notify emergency workers should an accident occur and the senior be unable to get to a phone.

Unfortunately, accidents and medical emergencies can happen to even the most proactive seniors and their families. It is important that family members are aware of their elderly relative’s wishes if an emergency should occur so that their care and affairs can be handled appropriately.

Home health care & senior care in Southeast Houston - Keep Senior Falls in Southeast Houston, Texas to a Minimum  -  Call us today at (281) 484-0200.

Every year about 25% of all seniors receive treatment for injuries cause solely by a trip or fall. So much does that happen that it has become the number one cause of injury for seniors in America. However, this can be avoided by “trip-proofing” both your home and lifestyle. The object is to remove as many fall hazards as possible and by strengthening your body to deal with minor trips or falls (or to avoid them all together).

First, keep a clean and tidy house. Unwanted objects or unseen clutter can easily lead to a trip or fall. Be sure to be especially careful on staircases or hallways; keep them clutter-free and well lit. The bathroom will need minor changes to be as safe as possible. Install grab bars for easy access to the commode or shower stall.

Put non-skid or non-slip on any floor object like a rug or bathroom mat that could slip while you’re standing on it. Remain active both indoors and outdoors by exercising, walking or gardening. You’ll fortify your bones, strengthen your muscles and improve your overall balance and equilibrium.

Top this all off with a good diet and low alcohol consumption and you’ve done your part to keeping your trips and falls to a minimum.

Home Instead Senior Care Pasadena, Clear Lake, Baytown, Southeast Houston & Bay area Texas helps elders enjoy home and independence. Call us today at (281) 484-0200.

Falls in the Pasadena and Southeast Houston elderly are common and cause morbidity, mortality, and financial hardship:

• Each year, about 35% of community dwelling healthy adults age 65 and over fall
• Among nursing home residents, approximately three quarters or more fall (there are 1.5 falls per bed per year in nursing homes).

Fall related injuries account for 6% of all medical expenditures for adults over 65; 32,000 seniors suffer hip fractures due to falls caused by medication related problems.

Falls, however, can often be prevented, with minimum cost. Steps should be taken to remove the risk of falls whenever possible. Although this may initially sound like a tired topic of long term care or senior care pharmacy, it may actually be embraced as an opportunity for pharmacists to improve a senior’s quality of life on various levels.

The Minimum Data Set (MDS) for Nursing Home Resident Assessment and Care Screening contains quality indicators (QIs) that require facilities to look at falls as an area that can affect their rating among other facilities, affect their state survey outcome, and flag the quality of care they provide. Read more http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.asp?url=newlook/files/Feat/seniorcare.htm&pub_id=8&article_id=705

Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston gives tips that can help prevent elder falls in Pasadena, Baytown, Clear Lake, Webster, and Baytown Texas.

Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston & Bay Area - Personal Care - Homemaker Services - Elderly Care - Adult Day Care - Dementia Care - Parkinson’s Disease Care - Post Stroke Care - Post Surgery Care - 24 Hour Care - Family Respite

We continue our post from August 12th - Tips for Family Caregivers read more on last post in blog.

• Are you able to help her out on ocassion so that she has a break?
• Are there other family members who can step in and share the load? 
• Is there a day care center where your dad could go for part of each day? 

Call your Area Agency on Aging or local hospital to find out if there are other respite programs available in her community. 

Or contact Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston to hire a CAREGiver.  For just a few hours a week, and up to 24 hours a day, a CAREGiver could come to her home and stay with her husband while she gets away to shop, relax, lunch with friends or pursue a favorite hobby. 

Our CAREGivers are screened, bonded and insured, and trained to work with seniors in a variety of settings.

With just a little help, she could stay revived and rejuvenated enough to continue to be the kind of dedicated family caregiver she wants to be for her husband.

Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston & the Bay Area, Texas. (281) 484-0200.

Q. My 83 year old mother helps care for my dad, age 86. His health is failing so he does not get out of the house much.  As a result, my mom is at home more too.  She is stronger than my dad and still in good health.  How can I encourage her to go out more with friends and to develop hobbies - but not neglect him?

You’ve identified one very important aspect of family caregiving that too many people overlook.  Many family caregivers suffer from poor health because they neglect their own health and needs.  If your mother plans to continue having good health and be a support for her husband, she needs to continue enjoying her favorite pastimes. This is a crucial part of her routine. 

Tips to share with your mom:

• Set aside a little time each day to talk with friends.  Even if she can’t go out, suggest that she call them on the telephone to chat, if just for a few minutes.  
• How about establishing a weekly movie night with a friend?  If she can’t go out every week, suggest she host the movie at her house! 

What family caregivers often need most is help.  According to a recent Harris Interactive survey conducted for Home Instead Senior Care, 31 percent of family caregivers admitted they would like more help with caregiving. 

Visit in a day.. we’ll give you more tips to share with your mother.

Caregiving a Great Option for Seniors  Work in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, Texas!

Be a CAREGiver! Call us at (281) 484-0200

Unlike previous generations, which tended to retire as soon as they could collect benefits, 80 percent of all boomers predict they’ll work past 62, according to surveys by the AARP. They’re too youthful to stop working and fearful of outliving their savings.

Nearly one in three boomers who turns 62 this year is expected to apply for Social Security benefits. But 32 percent will keep working until they’re 66 or older, research prepared by MetLife’s Mature Market Institute found.

One popular, flexible career for seniors is that of caregiving.  For instance, according to the international company Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, the average age of their professional CAREGivers is about 48 with a significant percentage of these CAREGiver ranks being composed of individuals who are themselves seniors.  The organization has discovered that older adults often relate well to the clients whom they  serve.

Referral Reward…Home Instead Senior Care is seeking quality people to serve as CAREGivers.  We value our CAREGiver’s judgment and would like others like you to joint our team.  If you know of someone you believe would be an excellent CAREGiver, please complete Be a CAREGiver.

In the meantime, contact Home Instead Senior Care for more information about CAREGiver positions in Southeast Houston & the Bay Area, Texas. (281) 484-0200.

Caregiving a Great Option for Seniors Who Want to Work in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, Texas!

Be a CAREGiver! Call us at (281) 484-0200

If you are a senior, living in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, Texas, need extra money, and looking for a rewarding job, be a Home Instead Senior Southeast Houston CAREGiver.  Just recently a 62 year old healthy widow called us saying she would like to work part time. Many of her family and friends, her age, continue to be in the workforce and would like to work again too. But this time, she wanted to do something that’s rewarding.. wanting to give back. She asked if we had suggestions for what she could do?  She was an Executive Assistant during her career, but wants to try something new.

Acccording to a recent study, this lady is in the majority.  In this study, more than 70 percent of respondents believed that keeping experienced workers in jobs and engaged in society, either through continuing work or volunteering, is vital.  Experience Wave, www.experiencewave.org, is a campaign supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies that advances federal and state policies to make it easier for mid-life and older adults to stay engaged in work and community life.

Experience Wave found that 59 percent in the study plan to retire but expect to volunteer for a nonprofit or community organization. And they go on to say that an additional 14 percent plan to get training or learn a new skill for a different career.   More findings:

• 53 percent said the coming wave of baby boomers hitting “retirement age” will be an asset to society as they represent a pool of skilled workers with more time to dedicate to their communities
• 45 percent of respondents were still in the workforce in some capacity with 27 percent of these respondents unsure when or even if they would retire.

More on the Experience Wave study results in a day.. visit soon.

Referral Reward…Home Instead Senior Care is seeking quality people to serve as CAREGivers.  We value our CAREGiver’s judgment and would like others like you to joint our team.  If you know of someone you believe would be an excellent CAREGiver, please complete Be a CAREGiver.

In the meantime, contact Home Instead Senior Care for more information about CAREGiver positions in Southeast Houston & the Bay Area, Texas. (281) 484-0200.