CARE BLOG
New Year. New Career
Time for a Change? Are you happy with your current career path? Does your organization provide you with the support you need to be successful? Do you feel valued and appreciated? If you answered no to any of those questions, maybe it’s time for a change. “We understand that in the current environment, people often have many employment options,” [...]
Winter Weather Exercises for Seniors
Get Moving This Winter Did your aging loved ones enjoy a few too many sweet treats over the holidays? “It’s not uncommon for people of all ages to put on an extra pound or two during holidays,” said Sierra Goetz, operations manager at the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “However, for older people it can be difficult to get rid [...]
Ten Tips to Help Siblings Have Positive Caregiving Discussions
Ten Tips to Help Siblings Have Positive Caregiving Discussions When you visited over the holidays, you noticed things weren’t quite right with your mom - there was spoiled food in the refrigerator, stacks of unopened mail, and stains on her usually very nice clothes. It’s clear to you that she needs a little extra help at home… but your [...]
When Should Your Senior Loved One Stop Driving?
When Should Your Senior Loved One Stop Driving? It’s one of the hardest things older people have to do - give up their car keys. “It’s one of the most difficult discussions that families will have with senior loved ones because they equate driving with independence,” said Mark Goetz, co-founder, and president of the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “There [...]
How Children Can Help With Caregiving
Caring for Children and Aging Parents Are you a member of the sandwich generation - someone who is raising children while, at the same time, caring for aging parents? If so, you know that you have to make the most of every minute in every day. “Caring for children can be tiring. Caring for older loved ones can be [...]
Tips to Keep Your Senior Safe This Winter
Cold Weather Poses Risk for Older Adults While winter can be a wonderland, it’s important to remember that colder temperatures, ice, snow and hours of darkness can pose risks for older adults. “The cold weather months present some significant challenges for older adults,” said Sierra Goetz, co-founder and operations manager at the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “As temperatures drop, [...]
Beating the Holiday Blues
Most Wonderful Time of the Year...Not For Everyone For most of us, this is most wonderful time of the year. Unfortunately, for many seniors, it’s the worst. “Instead of joy and excitement, the holidays can trigger bouts of sadness and loneliness for seniors - especially if they live alone,” said Teresa Steinfatt, vice president of business performance at the [...]
Holiday Gift Ideas for Seniors – Copy
Holiday Gift Ideas for Seniors Still searching for the perfect holiday gift for your senior loved ones? We know that coming up with holiday gift ideas for older people can be challenging - especially if they insist they don’t need anything. So, we’ve compiled a list of useful items that might help them with everyday tasks and challenges - allowing [...]
Is Your Mom Eating Healthy Meals?
Is Your Mom Eating Healthy Meals? When you visited your aging mom over the Thanksgiving holiday, you noticed that she let others do the cooking - which is unusual, because she’s always loved preparing big family meals.Has she lost interest? Is she having trouble remembering or reading the recipes? Is arthritis limiting her ability to pick up heavy pots and [...]
RSV and the Elderly – What you Need to Know
You might have heard it on the news… hospital pediatric units across the country are filled with young patients who are sick with respiratory syncytial virus or RSV - an infection that affects the lungs and breathing passages. While we typically hear of outbreaks among babies and small children, adults can also get RSV, and those who are 65 and [...]
To Our Caregivers – Thank You
Elevate the Privilege of Caregiving At the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN), we’re committed to elevating the privilege of caregiving - it’s one of our five core values. “Our caregivers are amazing. They’re rock stars. They’re the heart and hands of our organization,” said Mark Goetz, co-founder and president of HCAN. “We’re beyond grateful for our team of caregivers who work [...]
Spreading Awareness About Alzheimer’s Disease
Spreading Awareness About Alzheimer’s Disease Did you know? One in seven Americans age 60 and older have a brain condition that could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease? It’s called mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that’s often confused with normal aging, because the symptoms are very subtle - such as forgetting people’s names or forgetting a story. “According [...]
Enjoying the Holidays with Senior Loved Ones
You’ve been gathering with family members to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas for as long as you can remember… but this year, things are different. Your mom’s dementia is worsening, and she’s becoming more and more frail. You worry that she may not be able to make it and, if she does, that she won’t enjoy the family gathering. What should [...]
Care Advocate Success Trainer Honored with the Hulda Osborn Award
Care Advocate Success Trainer Honored with the Hulda Osborn Award Congratulations, Linda! We’re very excited to announce that Linda Lundeen, our Care Advocate Success Trainer, has been honored with the Hulda Osborn Award - an award that recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions as a caregiver and/or helped support the home care industry. The award is presented annually by [...]
Ten Ways to Honor Older Veterans This Veterans Day
Ten Ways to Honor Older Veterans This Veterans Day Few people deserve our respect and gratitude more than the brave men and women who served in the military. At the HomeCare Advocacy Network, we’re proud and privileged to care for older veterans and their family members - giving them the care and support they need to age safely and with [...]
Family Caregiving Fast Facts
Family Caregiving Fast Facts Did you know… More than 34 million Americans have provided unpaid care for someone age 50 and older in the last 12 months. The majority of caregivers (82%) care for one other adult, while 15% care for 2 adults and 3% for 3 or more adults. About 15.7 million family caregivers care for someone who has [...]
Seven Reasons to Consider a Home Care Career
Seven Reasons to Consider a Home Care Career What are you looking for in a career - flexibility, job security, opportunities for continuous learning, a chance to give back to your community? A Career in Home Care If those benefits are on your wishlist, you should consider a career in professional caregiving. “More than 10,000 people turn 65 every day [...]
Five Tips for Long-Term Care Planning
Do you have a long-term care plan? Does family members fully understand the details - where you want to live, where your important documents are, how you plan to pay for the care you might need? It’s estimated that a person turning 65 today has a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care or support as they age. [...]
10 Tips to Ensure Your Senior’s Home is Winter Ready
10 Tips to Ensure Your Senior’s Home is Winter Ready Winter weather is on the way, so now is a good time to prepare your senior’s home for the cold, snowy days that lie ahead. Here’s a checklist to get you started. Have the furnace inspected. Many people don’t discover a problem until they switch the heat on for the [...]
Regular Exercise Linked to Longer Life
Regular Exercise Linked to Longer Life What’s the secret to longer life… never smoking, avoiding alcohol, a nutritious diet? While those healthy habits certainly contribute to healthy aging, a recent study suggests walking, swimming, playing golf or other forms of regular physical exercise could be the key to living longer. Study Results According to Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, older [...]
Ten Things You Should Know About Medicare
Ten Things You Should Know About Medicare You’ve received the mailings, seen the television ads and gotten advice from your sister’s, friend’s cousin… but what do you really know about Medicare and the benefits you’re eligible to receive? “People are inundated with information - this and that,” said Holly Klein Gillespie, president of HKG Insurance Solutions and an expert in [...]
Another Reason to Get a Flu Shot
Could a yearly flu vaccine help prevent Alzheimer’s disease? According to a new study… the answer is, yes. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 936,000 patients age 65 and older who received a flu vaccine and an equal number of individuals who did not. They found that, over a four-year period, those who had at least one flu shot were [...]
More Than a Meal on the Menu
When is the last time you enjoyed a meal with your aging loved ones? Research shows that seniors who regularly dine with friends and family tend to eat more and make healthier choices. More importantly, most older adults say they feel happier and more fulfilled when eating with others. “Sharing a meal is about so much more than eating [...]
The Risks of Not Hiring In-Home Care Through an Agency
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? "Gray Market" Caregivers “Private caregivers make [...]
Celebrating America’s Older Workers
Celebrating America’s Older Workers It’s National Employ Older Workers Week! From September 18 through September 24, employers and organizations across the country will celebrate older workers and bring attention to the important role those aged 55 and older play in the workforce. “At the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HomeCare), we don’t just care for seniors - we hire them,” said [...]