Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston helps elders stay home longer. Please call us when seeking non-medical, companionship, and professional caregvers in Southeast Houston, (281) 484-0200.

Home Safety Checklist for Seniors in Southeast Houston & Houston Bay area - LIsten to our offer to check for safety hazards in your home.

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Safety for Family Caregivers in the Houston Bay Area 

Your safety is very important. The way that you carry out your tasks each day plays a big part in protecting you.

While helping mom or dad, you might be tempted to lift things that weigh more than the 25 pound limit.

If your elder family members asks you to lift anything such as garbage or furniture, it’s important to know your physical limits. Make sure that you are physically capable of such tasks. You might request help from another family member before completing the assigment. It might be helpful to lay out your boundaries of what you can and cannot do. Let the aging senior know your boundaries, it’s important that you are clear with them so that the guidelines are set and you are able to keep doing your job without false expectations.

It’s also important to eliminate home hazards. Look out for wet floors, stairway obstructions and faulty handrails, these could lead to accidents. Make sure that you clean up spills immediately before walking on the floor. Keep objects out of the hallway and stairs. Check the lighting in the home to make sure it is adequate.

If you find anything to be questionable as far as safety is concerned, make sure that you contact your Home Instead office and let them know. You and the senior you care for are our priority.

Sign up for our FREE Home Safety Check in your local area!

Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston helps elders stay home longer. Please call us when seeking non-medical, companionship, and professional caregvers in Southeast Houston.

Home Safety Checklist for Seniors in Webster, Clear Lake, LaPorte, Pasadena - LIsten to our offer to check for safety hazards in your home.

Click here to listen…

This week our focus is on “Safety in the Home”. Home Instead Senior Care has put together this helpful list, so that all caregivers can check the senior’s home to make sure that it is safe for everyone. Also, make a note of the fantastic “special offer” we have going currently. All you have to do is submit your e-mail address and Home Instead Senior Care will provide a 15 minute home safety check, free of charge! There are no strings attached, and we promise you won’t be receiving a bunch of spam mail. This is a service that we are more than happy to provide to show you just how much you are valued by us.

Things to check when doing a home safety inspection:

· Keep the entrance well lit, and the railing is secure. Make sure that visitors are visible and the lock is in working order.

· Keep the living area uncluttered, rugs safe for movement, and electric cords safely attached.

· Check in the kitchen to make sure the faucets, stove burners, and oven is working.

· In the bedroom, make sure the nightstand is available for personal items.

· Bathrooms should have safety mats in the tub and fixtures in working condition.

These and many other safety features will be evaluated in your home, at your leisure, if you sign up today!

Home Instead Senior Care Houston gives additional tips on “when caring for an aging relative in Southeast Houston”. Call us if your elder needs home care in Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena and Southeast Houston at 281-484-0200.

Safety for Aging Seniors in Southeast Houston at Home -Fire Safety

The Statistics We Need to Change

• People between 65 and 74 are nearly twice as likely to die in a home fire as the rest of the population.
• People between 75 and 84 are nearly four times as likely to die in a fire.
• People ages 85 and older are more than five times as likely to die in a fire.

The following are important fire safety tips:

· Check to make sure smoke detectors are working properly.

· When smoking, make sure the contents in the ashtray are cool before you throw them away.

· Pay close attention to pots and pans when you are cooking.

· Keep an eye out for electrical problems. Look closely at extension cords and check for frayed wires or damaged outlets.

· Do not place anything flammable next to ovens, water heaters, stoves, and fireplaces.

· Keep matches and lighters in a safe place.

· Know where the exits are in the senior’s home.

· Know what to do in case of a fire. Have an escape plan in place.

· Keep in mind the senior’s special needs.

Finally, do not use electric blankets. They can be fire hazards. You could put a warm bottle in the senior’s bed for a few minutes before he or she gets in.

Above all else, in case of a fire, stay calm. This is very important, and could save the lives of you and your senior.

Home Instead Senior Care Houston gives additional tips on “when caring for an aging relative in Southeast Houston”. Call us if your elder needs home care in Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena and Southeast Houston at 281-484-0200.

Family Caregivers who live at a distance from their aging parents, living in Southeast Houston, find it difficult to juggle their own lives and caring for mom or dad across state or county lines. In the majority of cases, this person is either the family’s eldest daughter, or the grown child who lives the closest to the parent or relative needing care.  Spouses also play an important role here; in fact, they comprise almost half of all family caregivers in the U.S.

First, here are some practical suggestions for helping you aging parent in Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena & remain safe at home:

• Keep the environment simple and uncluttered.

• Look for – and eliminate – dangerous objects and situations (burning matches, cigarettes, or candles; tripping hazards such as electrical cords and throw rugs; and sharp or breakable objects).

• Keep these and other similar substances out of reach or locked up: cleaning or art supplies; medications; poisonous houseplants; or anything else that may be harmful if swallowed. 

• Use nightlights in halls, bedrooms and bathrooms, and use guardrails on beds.

• Install grab bars and non-skid tape in bathroom tubs and showers. 

Family caregivers often find that the issue of communicating with an elderly loved one poses a challenge – one that requires patience and understanding.  In many cases, they’ll even find that prior adult-child roles are reversed, with the younger family member assuming more “parental” roles – a circumstance that can create problems.  And, of course, working with an aging parent who has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can further complicate the situation.

Home Instead Senior Care Houston gives additional tips on “when caring for an aging relative in  Southeast Houston. Call us if your elder needs home care in Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena and Southeast Houston at 281-484-0200.

Should Doctors Prescribe Exercise for Older Adults for Better Health? by Lori P. Michiel, NASM, CPT, Certified Personal Trainer, Fifty Plus Fitness.

Some experts on aging in Southeast Houston are recommending that doctors should be writing more prescriptions for exercise for older adults.  The rationale is that seniors are accustomed to getting prescriptions from their doctor and using the familiar concept of a prescription to help physicians incorporate exercise recommendations into their routine practice will convince more to take action.

This recommendation by Ann Yelmokas McDermott, Ph.D, researcher at Tufts University along with Heather Mernitz, Ph.D at the Biology Laboratory at the USDA is published in the journal American Family Physician. 

They agree that it is necessary to provide clinicians with explicit guidelines for giving their older patients effective “exercise prescriptions.”  Their motto for determining an exercise prescription is FITT-PRO:

• Frequency
• Intensity
• Type
• Time
• Progression

According to these principles, an exercise prescription must explicitly instruct an older patient regarding what type of exercise to do, how often, how hard to perform and for how long.

The exercises must also progress over time as the patient becomes more physically fit.  McDermott and Mernitz caution that, as with medication prescriptions, these parameters must be personalized to suit each patient’s health status and goals.

It’s unfortunate that only half of older adults report having received a suggestion to exercise from their physicians.  Perhaps as the fitness industry becomes more standardized and the clinicians recognize the need to participate in their patients’ healthcare, they will recognize that this is an effective and rather inexpensive way to keep their patients more functional.

McDermott AY, Mernitz H. American Family Physician. (August 2006); 74 (3) Exercise for Patients: Prescribing Guidelines.

Home Instead Senior Care Houston gives additional tips on “when caring for an aging relative in  Southeast Houston”. Call us if your elder needs home care in Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena and Southeast Houston at 281-484-0200.

Continence Care- The ABLE approach

Are you wondering how to help someone with incontinence? Well, Home Instead Senior Care has designed a program by Health & Home Solutions to inform Caregivers, as well as give them resources that will help senior’s cope with incontinence. It is called the ABLE program, and it is very easy to follow and remember.

You are probably thinking, “What does ABLE stand for?”  Here you go-

Attitude- Support a “can do” attitude with clients, letting them know they can handle this issue. Stay positive!

Bathroom Breaks- If you help seniors build and sustain a daily toileting routine, it will enable them to feel self-reliant. Home Instead calls this the “Gentle Reminder” program.

Lifestyle Changes- Just a few changes in lifestyle on a simple scale can help client’s take control of their incontinence.

Education-  Read about bladder health and help clients to become educated. This helps them maintain control over the problem.

This program will not only benefit everyone, it will promote a positive way to support your client and/or family member. All you have to do is be “ABLE”!

Home Instead Senior Care Houston gives additional tips on “when caring for an aging relative in  Southeast Houston”. Call us if your elder needs home care in Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena and Southeast Houston at 281-484-0200.

Preventive Steps Can Lessen Risk of Eye Injuries in Southeast Houston

October is Eye Injury Prevention Month, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Eye Smart campaign reminds seniors and their caregivers to be especially aware of their home environment and take preventive steps to lessen their risk of eye injury.

“Falling in the bathtub or shower, or against a nightstand or a doorknob is all too common among seniors,” said Paul T. Urrea, M.D., ophthalmologist in Los Angeles and a clinical correspondent for the academy. “The injuries that the eye sustains from those types of falls can be devastating. For the sake of your loved ones, you should take the proper precautions and prevent dangerous and potentially blinding accidents in the home.”

Data from the academy’s Eye Injury Snapshot, an annual clinical survey of eye injuries across the U.S., shows that approximately 11 percent of all eye injuries in the home are caused by slips and falls, making it one of the most common causes of eye injuries. There are 2.5 million eye injuries in the U.S. annually, about half of which happen in the home.

These safety steps can help diminish the risks of eye injury:

·         Make sure that rugs and shower/bathtub mats are slip-proof

·         Secure railings so that they are not loose

·         Cushion sharp corners and edges of furnishings and home fixtures

These are good tips for family caregivers to keep in mind when caring for an aging relative at home in Houston.

Home Instead Senior Care Houston gives additional tips on “when you need respite care in Southeast Houston”. Call us if your elder needs home care in Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena and Southeast Houston at 281-484-0200.

Q3 – When should a caregiver seek treatment?

A3 – If any of the above systems persist, then a caregiver should seek the advice of a medical practitioner, such as a physician or someone who specializes in mental health. A health care provider can help you evaluate your situation and propose any necessary treatment programs.

Q4 – What if I just need a break?

A4 – Many caregivers feel like they are alone, or feel guilty if they need to step back and take some time for themselves. Ask for help from family or friends and engage in any activity for your own enjoyment. If you don’t have anyone capable of taking your place as a caregiver, contact an organization like Home Instead Senior Care, for professional caregiving assistance.

Q5 – Is there anyone that I can talk to about what I’m dealing with?

A5 – Your local community should have support groups for caregivers where you can discuss your situation with other people living through similar experiences. If you don’t have access to local resources, contact a Home Instead Senior Care office in your community.

Home Instead Senior Care Houston gives additional tips on “when your elder needs medical attention”. Call us if your elder needs home care in Southeast Houston at 281-484-0200.

Q1 – Why do family caregivers experience such high levels of stress?

A1 – Many family caregivers have a lot on their plates, and have to balance their responsibilities as a caregiver while continuing to build their careers and provide for their own family and children.

Q2 – How can a caregiver tell if they stress that he/she is experiencing is getting to be excessive?

A2 – There are a number of physical and emotional changes that may occur to indicate that the stress is taking its toll on the health of a caregiver. A caregiver may not be sleeping well; have muscle tension in the back, shoulders or neck; have frequent headaches that increase in severity; stomach or digestive problems may develop. Digestion problems are; upset or acid stomach, cramps, heartburn, gas, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or diarrhea.

Stress may also result in weight fluctuation (excessive gain or loss); hair loss; fatigue; high blood pressure, irregular heart beat or palpitations; chest pain; increased levels of perspiration; skin disorders including hives, eczema, psoriasis, tics or itching; periodontal disease or jaw pain; reproductive problems, infertility or sexual dysfunction; or a weakened immune system which might result in more colds, flu and infections.

Emotional changes may include anxiety, depression, mood swings, butterflies, irritability, memory problems, lack of concentration, feeling out of control, substance abuse, the development of irrational phobias, a need to be argumentative, feeling of isolation and job dissatisfaction.

Home Instead Senior Care Houston gives additional tips on “when your elder needs medical attention”. Call us if your elder needs home care in Southeast Houston at 281-484-0200.

•Having severe chest pain:  The sudden onset of severe chest pain that radiates into the shoulders arms and back and is accompanied by nausea, sweating, and possibly shortness of breath my be a sign that you are having a heart attack.  Seek medical attention immediately!

If you are experiencing a dull pain that follows physical exercise or heightened emotions and disappears when you have rested and calmed down, then you may have angina, a sign of arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries.  You should consult with a physician when possible.  An increase in severity or frequency of any of these symptoms is important information and should be relayed to your doctor!

• Severe headache:  A tumor may be indicated if the headaches are accompanied by blurry or double vision, loss of peripheral vision, loss of balance, nausea and/or vomiting.  If the headache has a sudden onset and is “the most painful thing you’ve ever felt” it is possible you are having an aneurysm or a mild stroke.  Immediate medical intervention is required.  Go to the nearest emergency room!