The Importance of Respite for Caregivers

If you are a family caregiver, you may need to be reminded of the importance of taking time for yourself.  We understand that while caring for an aging parent or relative is a labor of love, it is still labor. Very often caregivers can neglect their own needs while they spend more and more of their time caring for a loved one.

As a caregiver, you do not want to get to the point of complete burnout.  If you find yourself giving up favorite hobbies and vacations, saying no to friends, feeling distracted at work and getting more stressed with your spouse and children, you may already be experiencing caregiver stress.  Signs of caregiver stress include feelings of anxiety, depression and irritability, difficulty sleeping, always feeling tired and run down, trouble concentrating and overreacting to small day-to-day problems.  Many times stressed out caregivers find themselves drinking, smoking or eating more than they should while at the same time cutting out the leisure activities that used to bring them joy.  It is estimated that 46 percent to 59 percent of caregivers suffer from clinical depression. 

Neglecting your own good health habits is not good for you or your family.  You need to ask yourself: “What good will I be to the person I care for if I become ill?”   As a caregiver, it is critical for you to take good care of yourself—even while you are taking care of your aging loved one.  This is where a professional in home care provider can help by offering quality respite care while you get a well needed break.  SYNERGY HomeCare provides Colorado with a wide range of compassionate and experienced non-medical home care services.  Please contact us to learn more about how we can help your family.  

We provide the most trusted non-medical in home care solutions.  SYNERGY’s mission is to ensure that every client is treated with the upmost respect and dignity, and we incorporate those beliefs into all of our home health care services. Please contact us for more information or a complimentary in-home assessment.

Signs Your Loved One Needs More Help

Families can often be unaware that an aging parent or relative is entering a stage in their lives that they require more assistance to live safely and comfortable in their own home.  Denial can be a part of it as many seniors worry that if they admit to needing help, or accept assistance, they will lose their independence.  However the reverse can be true.  Getting the proper help may make the difference of whether they can continue to live safely at home. 

There are some general signs that your loved one needs help to maintain the best quality of life.  One of first things you will want to look for is changes is the way they live.  If your parent was once a good housekeeper but now the home is starting to look un-kept, there may be problems.  Another sign is if their appearance has changed and you notice they are not bathing regularly. 

A significant weight loss may mean your parent is having trouble preparing meals. More warning signs they need help is if they have difficulty getting up from a seated position or with walking, balance and mobility.  Be aware of any uncertainty and confusion when performing familiar tasks.  It is also common for seniors to have problems remembering to take their medications and require reminders to stay complaint in their care plan.  Additionally tasks such as running errands, getting to and from doctor appointments and grocery shopping may all be coming more difficult for them to do. 

At SYNERGY HomeCare, we offer a wide range of non-medical home care services designed to help seniors maintain the best quality of life possible in the comfort of their own home.  In addition our services include recovery assistance, new mothers care, respite for caregivers and much more. 

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most trusted names in home care in Colorado. Our mission is to ensure that every client is treated with the upmost respect and dignity, and we strive to incorporate those beliefs into all of our home health care services.  Please contact us for a complimentary in-home care assessment to learn more about our services.


 

Tips to Preventing Falls in the Home

Preventing falls in the home is especially important for seniors as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that one in every three older adults (aged 65 or older) falls each year.  In fact falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for older adults.  The CDC’s statistics indicate that 2.5 million elderly adults were treated in an emergency department in 2013 for nonfatal falls and almost three-quarters of a million were hospitalized.   

So what can be done to prevent or help to mitigate falls in the elderly?  To start with the National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends that seniors take steps to "fall proof" their homes, both inside and outdoors.  Most of their suggestions are easy to follow and do not require much effort or cost to implement.  Simple things like improving the lighting (especially on stairways and entrances), installing handrails and grab bars, and putting commonly used items more easily in reach can help to make a difference. 

The NIH recommends removing obstacles and clutter out of the way and make sure pathways throughout the house are wide open and clear.  Another tip is to check that carpets are securely attached to the floor and stairs, and in place of throw rugs, use non-slip rugs. On uncarpeted floors and stairs, apply non-slip strips.   Furthermore, have a lamp right next to your bed that is easy to turn on.  In the winter, avoid going out alone on icy sidewalks and be sure to wear the proper boots when you do go.

As part of our services, SYNERGY HomeCare offers Colorado seniors and their families a complimentary home safety assessment that helps to minimalize the risk of trips and falls at home.  Please contact us to learn more.  Our all-inclusive non-medical in home care is designed to help keep our clients safe and healthy while in the comfort of their own homes. 

Sources:  cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html

nihseniorhealth.gov/falls/homesafety/01.html  

A leader in the home health care field, SYNERGY caregivers provide in home care not only to seniors but also to special needs children, new mothers, and those recovering from illness or surgery. Our compassionate caregivers can assist you or your family member with daily personal activities, meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation, companionship, and much more.   Contact us for more information on our comprehensive home care services. 

Learn the Symptoms of Stroke

Seeking medical help as soon as possible upon the first signs of a stroke is imperative and can impact your recovery or that of your loved one.  By learning to recognize the symptoms of a stroke, it will help to get the treatment you need, when you need it.  In fact the acronym “F.A.S.T.” is used as a mnemonic for the sudden signs of stroke.  The American Stroke Association states that if you spot the signs; you need to call 9-1-1 for assistance immediately.    

F.A.S.T. stands for:

F        Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?

A        Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S        Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?

T        Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.

There are other symptoms of stoke such as a sudden numbness or weakness in a leg, arm or the face or sudden confusion and difficulty in understanding among other signs.  We encourage you to learn more as the longer a stroke goes untreated, the chance of stroke related brain damage increases.  By getting the proper medical treatment shortly after the onset of symptoms, it improves the chance of survival and a more successful recovery. 

At SYNERGY HomeCare we provide a wide range of non-medical home care in Colorado that includes stroke recovery assistance.   We also provide home care services for clients with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, ALS and arthritis as well as senior care and much more.  Our affordable services are flexible and adapted to meet your individual needs.

Sources: strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_308528_SubHomePage.jsp

At SYNERGY HomeCare, we are one of the most trusted names in home care in Colorado.  We take a C.A.R.E. Team Approach, which stands for Coordinated and Responsive Engagement.  Our mission is to ensure that every client is treated with the upmost respect and dignity, and we strive to incorporate those beliefs into all of our home health care services. Contact us for more information.

Grow Old in Your Own Home Safely

One of the more common refrains heard from aging adults is that they wish to grow old in the comfort of their own home.  While this is understandable, in many cases, there are some concerns that need to be addressed to allow that to happen safely and ensure the best quality of life is maintained. 

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), a branch of the Federal Government’s National Institutes of Health, funds and conducts research on aging adults, which includes studies on how elderly adults can retain their independence in their own homes.  One of their first suggestions is to think about the type of help you or your loved one requires now or may need in the future to live comfortably at home.  They caution to remember that those needs can change and the level of care may need to be adjusted. 

The NIA lists the home care that may be required for seniors to continue to live safely and independently at home and includes daily personal care to assist seniors with bathing and getting dressed.  Seniors may also need help with housekeeping chores such as vacuuming, laundry, dishwashing and more.  Other services required may include transportation to and from doctor appointments, meal preparation, errands and even companionship. 

The NIA recommends that seniors and their families learn more about home healthcare agencies in their own communities that can provide help with these services.  You may be able to get referrals from your healthcare providers, local senior centers or social services.   

At SYNERGY HomeCare, we are experts at providing a wide range of in home care for Colorado families.  Our extremely flexible and affordable non-medical services are designed to oversee your loved one’s care each step of the way and to provide the highest quality of life possible.

Sources: nia.nih.gov/health/publication/theres-no-place-home-growing-old

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most trusted names in home care in Colorado.  Our C.A.R.E. Team Approach stands for Coordinated and Responsive Engagement.  We not only provide the best non-medical homecare in the industry, but assist with the full coordination of care.  Contact us to learn more about our wide range of compassionate and professional home care services. 

Learn More About SYNERGY HomeCare

SYNERGY HomeCare provides home health care services that include but are not limited to: elder care, Alzheimer's care, ALS care, arthritis care, Parkinson's care, stroke care, and dementia care. In addition we provide home care for special needs children, new mothers, recovery assistance, and respite care for family members. As highly responsible, compassionate home care providers, we treat our clients of all ages with respect and dignity. In order for our clients to have the best quality of life in their own home, we work with families to develop a synergistic and quality care plan that addresses the level of care they require. Care managers help to organize the type of services required whether it is transportation, scheduling and attending doctors’ appointments, or providing help with following medical orders.  If help with day-to-day activities is needed, we offer customized, flexible services that include meals, errands and transportation, light housekeeping, and more.  We also provide live-in care and 24/7 care if required. We are the only non-medical home health care agency that offers the C.A.R.E. Team approach, which stands for Coordinated and Responsive Engagement.  This unique approach allows us to partner with family members, medical providers and the client to help ensure our in home health care provides a higher quality of life for our clients.