Our Houston Caregivers help seniors live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Type 2 diabetes can affect people of all ages. The list that is provided below contains some risk factors that will increase the chances of developing the disease. As a senior, if you have any of these factors, you may want to discuss them with your doctor and try to take steps to avoid the development of the disease.

1. If you are over the age of 45, you are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Family history also plays a large role in the risk factor.

2. If you are over-weight, you will be at a risk. Individuals who are not physically active will be at risk. Try to exercise daily and maintain a healthy weight.

3. Females who have had babies weighing more than 9 pounds, or who have had diabetes during a pregnancy will be at a higher risk.

4. High blood pressure is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. If your HDL cholesterol level is below 35 mg/dL, your risk factor is increased.

5. Previous diagnoses of metabolic syndrome and an impaired glucose tolerance both play a role in the development of Type 2 diabetes.

6. Polycystic ovarian syndrome and acanthosis can affect Type 2 diabetes. If you have been diagnosed with either of these conditions, you will be at a high risk of developing the disease.

Do you have a parent with diabetes? The American Diabetes Association offers these tips on how to help your parent manage their diabetes.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugar Land, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215.

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Sugar Land, Stafford, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

Often the idea of senior caregiving falls to family members who are beginning to recognize a need in their loved ones. But the process of making these caregiving decisions just isn’t easy on any family but with thorough research and careful planning, the right decision can be made. Here are some tips to help families through their journey towards caregiving.

1. Talk about it – while family might believe a senior requires home care assistance, their elderly loved one might not feel the same. Talking about it gently is essential, and not all seniors are likely to simply accept the suggestion of help. A family counselor can intervene if necessary.

2. List the help needed – talk together and determine specific things that a senior care provider like Home Care Houston could assist with. Whether it’s grocery shopping, help with bathing and dressing, or other tasks.

3. Do research – talk to friends and family about home care agencies they’d recommend, but during that process as costs are addressed, it’s also essential that any funding or insurance coverage that may be available is investigated

4. Don’t jump into a decision – even once a specific agency is narrowed down, it’s okay to interview them and ask questions about their history and their policies. Ask if they’ll spend time with the senior first to assess comfort level, and also verify that a replacement caregiver will be provided if one doesn’t work out

Via: The Family Caregiver

Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugar Land, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215.

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Sugar Land, Stafford, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

These days, “nursing home” has become a dirty word amongst the senior community. Seniors want to live independently, in their own homes and play by their own rules. All things that nursing homes do not offer, despite the fact that they can address medical needs and provide assistance with activities of daily living. Assisted living facilities often get grouped into the same category, but they offer many of the things that make nursing homes undesirable with the following services:

1. Living independently – seniors in ALFs are often in one-bedroom or studio apartment buildings, so they have the privacy and independence that they require

2. Safety is offered – ALF apartments anticipate the safety needs of seniors and ensure that they include grab bars, ramps and other essential safety devices. Supervisors are always available to respond to emergencies

3. Seniors don’t need to worry about home maintenance – cleaning services, including laundry can be provided by ALF

4. Activity of daily living services are offered – bathing, dressing, and medication reminders can be provided. There are also special facilities for those who suffer with Alzheimer’s and dementia and designated services

Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugar Land, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215.

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Sugar Land, Stafford, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

If you know someone who is a family caregiver, then it’s time to give something back to them this month for National Family Caregivers Month. The following are gestures they’re likely to appreciate year-round:

1. Give them a break – offering to provide respite care or hiring someone to step in can allow caregivers to relax or reconnect with friends and family

2. Remind local businesses what this month means – then encourage them to offer freebies or discounts for family caregivers in the area!

3. Lend them a hand with holiday preparations – the holidays can create added responsibility, so help a caregiver decorate for the holidays or put stamps on their cards

4. Get them laughing – go see a funny movie with them, or pick up tickets to a local comedy club. Laugher IS the best medicine!

5. Take over holiday hosting responsibilities – caregivers already have a lot on their plates; host Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday celebration so the caregiver can simply focus on enjoying the company!

6. Sign the petition – there’s a petition to establish a stamp that recognizes family caregivers; sign it in their honor!

7. Create something personal – a personalized gift, like a calendar with family photos, will help them feel like they’re appreciated, and it will help them stay organized

8. Send them a token of appreciation – a bouquet of flowers or a card might not be a big gesture, but it will make caregivers feel appreciated and special

9. Connect them with caregiving resources – free seminars and other events take place to keep caregivers better informed and help them manage stress

10. Lend your support – give them an ear to talk to, or help them find a support group

Via: The Family Caregiver

Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugar Land, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215.

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Sugar Land, Stafford, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

Q – Are more natural forms of treatment available for common senior ailments? If so, are they safe practices for seniors and what are the impacts upon their health?

A – Complementary and Alternative Medicine refers to non-medicinal treatments that either supplement traditional medical care or replace it entirely and can include use of vitamins, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and use of herbal and natural remedies for treatment and prevention of illness. Houston has many resources for such treatment options. While it is not recommended that seniors forgo receiving assessment and care from a traditional medical doctor through use of Alternative Medicine (which by definition, uses natural methods in lieu of traditional doctor care), Complementary Medicine is becoming better embraced by even the medical profession. Integrated therapy combines both traditional medical practices with more natural or holistic methods to give seniors the optimal benefits. Acupuncture or massage may be used to alleviate the affects of cancer or medical cancer treatment methods, while garlic might be used to help treat heart disease. Any seniors interested in using Complementary and Alternative Medicine should first discuss the impacts it could have upon their health with their local Houston medical doctor, and maintain communication during the course of any holistic treatments.

The National Institutes of Health, Senior Health branch is completing research about Complementary and Alternative Medicine and publishing its findings so that seniors can make smart, informed decisions about their medical choices.

Sources:
1.    National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
2.    NIH Senior Health
3.    Senior Journal
4.    Eldercare ABC Blog

Image: Ask Pari Blog

Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugar Land, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215.

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Sugar Land, Stafford, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

Home Care Houston Northwest serving older adults in Humble, Katy, Spring, Baytown, and Tomball - call 281-440-5160.

Hiring a professional caregiver to help out a senior at home, can be a big decision. Hiring a caregiver from a professional caregiving agency has its benefit over hiring a private caregiver for a number of reasons. Even though some Houston caregiving agencies can be more costly, the piece of mind a caregiving agency can offer is well worth the expense. A professional caregiving agency, like Home Instead Senior Care, helps mandate the care provided by its caregivers; it dictates exactly what role the caregiver will play in the home and care of a senior, and helps to select a caregiver that will best fit the care recipient’s lifestyle, needs and personality. With a professional caregiving agency, elderly home caregivers receive comprehensive training in non-medical care techniques, so families can feel confident that their seniors living and aging in Houston are receiving quality care.

While hiring a private caregiver might sometimes save money, the hassles that come with making that care decision aren’t generally worth the savings. Unless you hire a private caregiver who files their taxes as an independent contractor, families become the caregiver’s employer, which requires that you pay Social Security, Employment and payroll taxes.

Sources:
1. Caregiver’s Home Companion
2. Elderlaw Cincinnati

Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugar Land, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215.

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Sugar Land, Stafford, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

Home Care Houston Northwest serving older adults in Humble, Katy, Spring, Baytown, and Tomball - call 281-440-5160.

Home Care Houston Southeast serving elders in the Bay Area; Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, & Pearland - call (281) 484-0200.  

Home Care Houston South Central serving seniors in Meyerland, Bellaire, Missouri City, Sugarland, & Stafford - call 713-774-2215. 

Home Care Houston Southwest serving aging adults in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fushear, Memorial City & Galleria areas - call 832 379-4700.

While seniors should exercise extra care when on the road, the elderly’s approach to getting behind the wheel shouldn’t be so different from younger generations. Seniors also need to have a firm grasp upon the rules of the road, and be proactive while driving defensively. Those who find their confidence has declined can take a driving class or refresher course through the AARP, AAA or National Safety Council. It’s also okay for older adults to adjust their driving based on their comfort levels, by avoiding driving at night, through unfamiliar areas, in heavy traffic or when there is bad weather.

Families can help encourage their seniors to drive safely, by reminding them of these basic driving tips:
• Wear a seatbelt
• Watch all the traffic around, including those entering the road from curbs,driveways or businesses and keep eyes moving
• Use rearview and outside mirrors often
• Never assume you can take the right of way, always enter an intersection with caution
• Maintain a minimum three second following distance
• When driving in the rain or in winter, reduce speed and increase following distances
• Avoid prolonged hours of driving.
• Keep windshields and rear windows clean inside and out
• Avoid looking at the headlights of oncoming vehicles
• Do not drive when emotionally upset
• Minimize background noise; keep radio volume, air conditioning and heater blowing units on lowest settings. If you believe that an important senior in your life is exercising unsafe driving, be encouraging and talk to them about their options; having the ability to drive allows them an element of independence that cannot be replaced, so help them maintain it, but make sure that safety comes first.

It’s highly recommended you drive with a senior once a month for driving observation and assurance that they have maintained safe driving practices. If unsafe driving is detected, contact your local DMV to discuss driving privileges.

If you feel it is unsafe for your loved one to be driving, please contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office at the number listed above,for driving services enabling them to take advantage of alternative transportation.

Sources: http://www.safety-council.org/info/seniors/driving.htm
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/driving.shtml

Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, Pearland - providing the most trusted elder care and home care in America! Call us at (281) 484-0200 for quality home care.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Aging with Assistance

Many seniors feel like as they go through the aging process, they have to do it alone. They don’t want to burden their families with their problems, so they simply keep them to themselves. However, what seniors should realize is that their family and friends would be more than happy to offer their support and assistance, if only they would be asked. Seniors shouldn’t hesitate to discuss their care needs with their loved ones; however, there are a number of common easy ways in which families can help their aging relatives.

• Escorting them to doctor’s appointments
• Taking them shopping for groceries and household needs
• Assisting with cooking and cleaning
• Having prescriptions filled, providing reminders and managing medications
• Taking care of financial responsibilities, like bill paying
• Offering companionship and a sense of safety when going for walks
• Checking in routinely by phone, even from a distance, to make sure the senior is doing okay.
• Arranging caregiving assistance through a professional organization
• Sourcing resources and obtaining information regarding healthcare
• Offering an empathetic listening ear and emotional support

Family members, who are unable to provide full-time care assistance, needn’t feel obligated to over extend themselves when offering assistance to their senior relatives. Even assisting on occasion with basic tasks, like those outlined above, can make a senior’s life easier and lets them know they have support from the important people in their lives.

Image: jupiterimages.com

Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, Pearland providing the most trusted elder care in Americas! Call us for information about home care options at (281) 484-0200.

Home Instead Senior Care created and designed the 40/70 Talk with Parents. Please use it as a helpful guideline to start a conversation with your parent about tough issues. Sign up - on the left under Special Offers to receive our free Conversation Starters Guide.

View our Video on 40/70 Talk: Starting Conversations About Care For An Elder

In the research of seeking advice on family meetings when addressing our aging parents critical life’s decisions, we like some families would rather chew nails than have select members give advice or opinion on how parents should live out their lives. Even though we come from the same blood line, each one of us are so different. It’s like comparing a woman to a man. We share different attitudes, perspectives, life experiences and joys, and fears.
 
• Start with immediate family then add extended family and friends for subsequent meetings if this would be helpful. Include the elder person in the meeting if at all possible.

• Make sure you can hear each other – literally, reduce background noise, check to see what has been heard through review, summary, etc.

• Consider large print or recorded material if resources or other written materials need to be reviewed together.

• Have ground rules such as agreeing to talk with the whole group together rather than member to member outside the meeting, can call time out if necessary, be polite and respectful of each other, no walking out.

• Stay focused on the purpose: “helping the parent maintain independent living as long as possible” or “developing a plan of home care” or “planning for facility based care,” etc. Don’t wander into past hurts or past promises. It is a new day with new questions to consider. Eldercare is a process that changes over time and new plans and decisions come up.

• Respect each other’s opinions and listen to each other, especially to the elder person. Different opinions can be respected.

• Create an agenda and use it to stay on task.

• Identify someone to take notes and share them with everyone. Ensure that your elder can read the copy he/she is given. This can be used later to remind people of their agreements, responsibilities, and commitments.

• Consider a neutral 3rd party or professional to facilitate the meeting.

Home care Houston.

Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, Pearland providing the most trusted home care and elder care in Americas! Call us for information about in home care options at (281) 484-0200.

Bridging the communication gap between adult children and their senior loved ones. Having the talk with aging parents about driving, getting help around the house, home care, home safety issues, and health concerns can be difficult if you’ve never addressed senior planning issues with your parents. But there’s never a better time to “have the talk” with them to insure their safety and independence at home.

That’s why Home Instead Senior Care created and designed the 40/70 Talk with Parents. Please use it as a helpful guideline to start a conversation with your parent about tough issues. Sign up - on the left under Special Offers to receive our free Conversation Starters Guide.

View our Video on 40/70 Talk: Starting Conversations About Care For An Elder

The growing senior market has a potential “after shock” and has many of us, from family members to legislature and even our government, up in arms! While many fear that Social Security will run out, health care will be obsolete, caregivers and home care will be extinct, and Medicare & Medicaid will no longer be available, there are many ways for us to prepare for the upcoming tsunami of seniors.

The first step is planning. Start with talking to your family. It’s important that adult children understand your wishes and you grasp what they are willing and can do to help care for you as you age.

Remember to Sign up - on the left under Special Offers to receive our free Conversation Starters Guide.

Home care Houston.