CARE BLOG
Home Care After Hospital Discharge: How Professional Caregivers Ensure a Safe Recovery
Home Care After Hospital Discharge: How Professional Caregivers Ensure a Safe Recovery Why Home Care After Hospital Discharge is Essential Your aging mom is recovering from an unexpected surgery. The hospital is ready to discharge her, but your dad is too frail to safely take care of her at home. You want to help… but you live more than [...]
Flu Shot Facts: Essential Information for Seniors and Their Families
Flu Shot Facts: Essential Information for Seniors and Their Families Have you gotten a flu shot? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months old and older should get a flu shot, with rare exceptions. Because our immune systems weaken with age, it’s especially important for older people to get immunized. In recent years, it’s [...]
10 Essential Fall Prevention Tips to Keep Your Senior Loved Ones Safe and Independent
10 Essential Fall Prevention Tips to Keep Your Senior Loved Ones Safe and Independent The Importance of Fall Prevention for Seniors When it comes to falls, the odds are stacked against our aging loved ones. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every four seniors will fall this year - it’s the number one [...]
Ten Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: What You Need to Know
Ten Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: What You Need to Know The Prevalence of Alzheimer’s in the U.S. In the U.S., nearly 7 million people age 65 and older currently have Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, that number is expected to double. “Working with seniors and their families, we understand that just thinking about the possibility of Alzheimer’s [...]
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Recognizing and Managing Caregiver Stress
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Recognizing and Managing Caregiver Stress Are you feeling overwhelmed or worried? Have you lost interest in activities you used to enjoy? Are you sleeping too much or too little? What is Caregiver Stress? “Caring for an aging loved one can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be challenging and stressful,” said Sierra [...]
Professional Caregiving Is The Perfect Career for Busy Moms
Why Professional Caregiving Is the Ideal Career for Busy Moms: Flexible, Fulfilling, and Financially Rewarding Looking for something to do when the kids go back to school? Have you thought about professional caregiving? At the HomeCare Advocacy Network, we offer flexible schedules that that allow busy moms to make extra money and do meaningful work without missing their kids’ [...]
Medication Management for Seniors: Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes
Medication Management for Seniors: Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes The Importance of Proper Medication Management How many prescription drugs do your aging parents take? If they’re like most seniors, they take at least one - probably more. While medicines can help us live longer and healthier, taking them the wrong way or mixing certain drugs can be dangerous - [...]
Top Ten Tech Gadgets to Help Seniors Age in Place Safely
Top Ten Tech Gadgets to Help Seniors Age in Place Safely You installed grab bars in the shower, improved lighting in dark hallways and tightened the handrails along the stairways. Are there other things you should do to make your aging mom’s home more senior friendly? “It’s important for seniors and their families to think about all of the [...]
Reducing the Risk of Cognitive Decline: Essential Tips for Preventing Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Reducing the Risk of Cognitive Decline The Growing Concern: Alzheimer's Disease By 2060, it’s estimated that 14 million people in the U.S. will have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. The Power of a Healthy Lifestyle It’s a scary statistic - but there is good news. Recent studies show that a healthy lifestyle could lower the risk [...]
Easy Meal Prep Tips for Aging Parents: Ensuring Healthy Eating
Easy Meal Prep Tips for Aging Parents: Ensuring Healthy Eating During a recent visit with your mom, you noticed that she let others do the cooking - which is unusual, because she’s always loved preparing family meals. Has she lost interest? Is she having trouble remembering or reading the recipes? Is arthritis limiting her ability to pick up heavy [...]
Ensuring Senior Hydration: Vital Tips to Prevent Dehydration in Elderly Loved Ones
Ensuring Senior Hydration: Vital Tips to Prevent Dehydration in Elderly Loved Ones “I thought he was having a stroke.” That’s how Debbie Hilt, a consultant with the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN) describes her 95-year-old dad’s scary bout with dehydration. “I called to check in and noticed right away that he wasn’t himself,” Hilt said. “He was very confused and [...]
Essential Aging in Place Safety Checklist for Your Loved Ones
Essential Aging in Place Safety Checklist for Your Loved Ones Identifying Potential Hazards Does your mom still have decorative throw rugs scattered around her home? Is your dad’s living room cluttered with magazines, newspapers, books, and other items? Do you worry that your aging loved one may slip and fall in their shower or bathtub? If you answered yes [...]
10 Summer Safety Tips for Seniors
10 Summer Safety Tips for Seniors As the temperature rises, so does the risk for heat-related problems - especially for older adults. “Summer is here, which means we’ll all be spending more time outdoors soaking up the sunshine,” said Sierra Goetz, co-founder and operations manager at the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “While sun exposure does have benefits - including [...]
The Benefits of Music Therapy for Older Adults and Dementia Patients
The Benefits of Music Therapy for Older Adults and Dementia Patients We know music is good for the soul, but did you know it’s also good for the mind? How Music Stimulates the Brain Studies show that music brings our senses to life and stimulates many parts of the brain at the same time, including those that affect language, [...]
10 Signs of Caregiver Burnout
Recognize the 10 Signs of Caregiver Burnout Are you feeling overwhelmed or worried? Have you lost interest in activities you used to enjoy? Are you sleeping too much or too little? Feeling Overwhelmed or Worried? Here’s What You Need to Know “Caring for an aging loved one can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be very challenging - [...]
Choosing the Right Caregiver
Choosing the Right Caregiver Your aging mom is failing. She doesn’t need skilled nursing or assisted living yet - just a little help with things like light housekeeping, meal prep and getting in and out of the shower. You’ve heard a lady from your mom’s church sometimes works as an independent caregiver, but is that the best option? Understanding [...]
Ten Tips to Make Mealtimes Easier for People with Dementia
Ten Tips to Make Mealtimes Easier for People with Dementia If you’re caring for someone who has Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, you know that encouraging them to eat nutritious meals can be a daily challenge - especially during the middle and late stages of the disease. Understanding Mealtime Challenges for People with Dementia “We work with many families [...]
Travel Tips for People Who Have Dementia
Travel Tips for People Who Have Dementia Prepare for a Memorable and Safe Family Vacation Are aging loved ones traveling with you on this summer’s family vacation? While it’s a wonderful opportunity for quality family time, traveling with older loved ones can be challenging, especially if they have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. “Lots of great memories are [...]
Understanding Glaucoma
Understanding Glaucoma Your mom seems to have trouble focusing while reading or watching her favorite television program. Does she simply need new glasses or could it be something more serious? What is Glaucoma and Why is it a Concern? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 3 million Americans have some form of glaucoma - a [...]
Tools That Can Make Life Easier for People Who Have Dementia
Tools That Can Make Life Easier for People Who Have Dementia If you’re caring for someone who has dementia, you know that they often need help completing, what used to be, simple tasks. “Many of us at the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN) have personal experience with dementia, so we understand many of the challenges that come with the disease,” [...]
Women and Stroke – What You Need to Know
Women and Stroke - What You Need to Know Did you know stroke is the third leading cause of death among women and kills more women than men? Surprised? If so, you’re not alone. Many women are not aware of their risk or the fact that symptoms can present differently in women. The Silent Threat: Understanding Stroke in Women [...]
Physical Exercise and Cognitive Decline
Physical Exercise and Cognitive Decline When it comes to healthy aging, a little exercise goes a long way - especially when it comes to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Research Findings: Exercise and Dementia Risk Reduction Experts with the Alzheimer’s Society, analyzed data from 16 studies into exercise and dementia. They found that regular exercise can reduce the [...]
Ten Tech Gadgets That Can Help Seniors Age in Place
Ten Tech Gadgets That Can Help Seniors Age in Place I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! Do you remember that commercial? At the time, wearable medical alert systems, like those featured in those memorable ads, were really the only technologies available to help seniors age safely in their homes. Not anymore. Technology to Simplify Daily Activities Today, there [...]
Tips to Help Overcome Dementia Challenges
Overcoming Dementia Challenges: Simple Tips for Caregivers Understanding Dementia Challenges If you’re caring for someone who has dementia, you know that every day brings unique, unpredictable challenges. “Many of us at the HomeCare Advocacy Network have personal experience with dementia, so we understand many of the challenges that come with the disease. The unpredictable behaviors can try the patience [...]
Ten Benefits of Gardening
Ten Benefits of Gardening Whether it’s tending a large vegetable plot, working in a community garden or planting a few potted pansies, gardening can do wonders for a senior’s overall health and well-being. Gardening for Physical and Emotional Health “For many seniors, gardening is much more than a hobby. Being outdoors and digging in the dirt is a great [...]