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Senior Care
November 15, 2024
Alzheimer's & Dementia Care in Clearwater, FL and Surrounding Areas
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, November has an extensive list of awareness themes that pertain to Home Helpers and many families in West Pasco and Pinellas Counties. Of all of these, the ...
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November 13, 2024
Caregivers in Clearwater, FL and Surrounding Areas
A caregiver I employ at Home Helpers received a call from her Mother-in-law asking if she and her husband would be traveling to visit over Thanksgiving because she wanted to shop for the holiday meal. After all, several membe...
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November 12, 2024
Senior Care in Clearwater, FL and Surrounding Areas
A few years ago, I shared a story about a friend whose Mom has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD. Over the Christmas holidays last year, she tested positive for COVID-19, and she became very sick. Her breathing ...
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November 06, 2024
As a Certified Senior Care Advisor, I have met with many families struggling to make the very best decisions for their aging and elderly loved ones. Every senior and situation is different, and unfortunately, it’s never easy to decide when or what care is necessary for your lo...
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October 23, 2024
Senior Care in Clearwater, FL and Surrounding Areas
Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th each year to recognize and salute surviving veterans who deserve our utmost respect and support with as many resources as possible in Pasco and Pinellas Counties to help make their...
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August 01, 2024
Safety Tips From An Experienced Home Care Provider in Clearwater, FL and Surrounding Areas
This year, Labor Day weekend is observed beginning August 31-September 2, and many individuals and families will choose to embark on a final vacation to commemorate the official end of ...
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July 18, 2024
As an aging adult in Tarpon Springs, I do my best to practice self-care by making healthy food choices, eating a nutritious diet, exercising, staying hydrated, engaging socially, and getting good, quality sleep. Those are the primary elements of my personal wellness journey, and...
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July 05, 2024
The caregivers I employ at Home Helpers frequently tell me how our senior clients do not drink enough water or other beverages for several reasons. Besides the diminished sense of thirst many seniors have due to aging, others don’t stay hydrated because they won’t need to go...
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June 24, 2024
One elderly woman under senior care loves to get her nails done at the same nail salon every month, maybe a few weeks longer between pedicures. This outing is important to her, because not only does it get her out of the house, it gives her something pleasurable to look forwar...
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April 01, 2024
In last week’s blog, I addressed Driving Retirement Part 1 – When to Take the Keys Away from a Senior Loved One, and the signs that may indicate it is time to have a tough conversation about taking the car keys away for driving safety concerns.In this week’s blog, Driving ...
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March 01, 2024
I don’t know about you, but I regularly encounter drivers who are on their phones or in such a hurry that they blow through red lights and stop signs without a pause. This has elevated my concern for seniors on the road because their reaction time has more than likely slowed w...
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March 01, 2024
One of the caregivers on my team helps a 76-year-old gentleman with Parkinson’s disease (PD). He is one of her favorite clients because she has known the family her entire life…literally. When she was an infant, her maternal Grandmother was a housekeeper for the man’s fami...
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August 01, 2023
This blog will likely be published during or after Hurricane Idalia impacts our beautiful Best Coast, so hopefully you have taken measures toward hurricane preparedness – including evacuation, if necessary – and find these 11 important safety tips for seniors after severe st...
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August 01, 2023
Pain: a localized or generalized unpleasant bodily sensation or complex of sensations that cause mild to severe physical discomfort and emotional distress and typically results from bodily disorder (such as injury or disease)We’ve all experienced some sort of physical, mental,...
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June 01, 2023
One of our senior clients is the epitome of a “southern belle,” which is exactly how her youngest daughter describes her!The senior woman is a former schoolteacher, a native of Birmingham, AL, with a distinct southern drawl, and she is very diligent about managing her person...
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May 01, 2023
If there is one thing I know with certainty, it’s that women bear the brunt of caregiving duties for family, friends, and strangers. It is generally our nature to nurture, but oftentimes, that can come at a cost.Women tend to juggle many responsibilities and focus more of thei...
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April 01, 2023
My family is comprised of dog lovers. My husband and I have a dog, and my adult children have dogs…our grandpups! They are considered members of our family and they play a very important role in our lives as amazing companions and living examples of unconditional love.At Home ...
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March 01, 2023
On National Caregivers Day, Friday, February 17, I placed a large order for pizzas so I could give one to each of our Home Helpers caregivers to take home to their families as a token of appreciation. Pizza is a convenient staple for most families, which is evident by the number...
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August 01, 2022
I want to begin this second installment about long-term care insurance (LTCI) by thanking my colleague, Jonathan Marsh, owner, Home Helpers® Bradenton, for creating such a comprehensive video series with extensive information to help current and future LTCI policy owners.There ...
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March 01, 2021
“Here comes Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail. Hippity hoppity Easter’s on its way!”Actor, singer, comedian and philanthropist, Danny Kaye, sang this song in a stop-animation Easter special that aired on television in 1971. Seniors, Boomers and their children f...
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June 01, 2020
We’ve all heard the adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but that is merely an old wives’ tale. It may not be easy to teach someone older and set in their ways to try new things, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they can learn! Granted, it...
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March 01, 2020
Now that two people in Pinellas County and one person in Pasco County have been diagnosed with COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus, and this nasty disease is rearing its ugly head too close to home, I am compelled to address this critical matter sooner rather than later.The...
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March 01, 2020
I am very proud that Home Helpers® has gained recognition as a leader in senior in-home care in Clearwater and surrounding areas. I strive to employ the best qualified caregivers who genuinely care about the well-being of others and consistently demonstrate compassion through t...
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March 01, 2020
Unprecedented. That’s the word being used for the current public health emergency surrounding COVID-19 and the coronavirus outbreak. Americans are being asked – and ordered – to alter their lifestyles by staying home, eliminating public activities, and practicing social di...
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March 01, 2020
It is a scary time for Floridians, and all Americans, as COVID-19 continues to spread across our country like wildfire. The United States is reporting more cases than any other country in the world, and there are currently 151 countries impacted by this invisible enemy, coronavi...
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February 01, 2020
If you have ever shared a meal with family, you may have noticed Great Aunt Alice “eating like a bird,” spooning-out small portions of food, picking at it with her fork, actually eating very little. The same may have been true of Uncle Frank, who was forced to get dentures t...
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February 01, 2020
Although, it’s not a particularly easy subject to approach with people, it seems a bit easier in a blog than face-to-face. I’m talking about colon cancer. It is the third most common type of cancer, as well as the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the Unite...
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February 01, 2020
When my little lady with dementia passed away recently, I became flooded with memories of the time we shared together. Betty was a spit-fire with a free spirit that seemed contagious to her friends and family. In as much as she had never remarried after the love of her life divo...
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February 01, 2020
It’s never easy to lose a loved one, especially when you know something as basic as proper dental hygiene may have prevented their illness or fatal health condition in the first place.The facts are confirmed. There is a direct link between your heart and your gums where b...
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January 01, 2020
The annual statistics regarding seniors falling are alarming. The incidents of seniors falling in bathrooms are even more staggering.According to the National Council on Aging, 25% of the American senior population experience a fall each year. A senior dies every 19 m...
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January 01, 2020
If it is possible to have any positive take-away from the sudden, tragic loss of NBA star, Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and their seven friends, colleagues and teammates, in what has been described as a violent helicopter crash, it is to remember each day is a gift, and we...
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January 01, 2020
I am really working hard to keep my New Year’s resolution on track in 2020, which means I am consciously shopping for healthy foods, preparing nutritious meals, and staying on track with my exercise routine.I, like most people, resolved to eat better and exercise more regularl...
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January 01, 2020
We are right in the middle of Florida’s flu season, yet by the end of December 2019, FloridaHealth.gov had reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], that influenza was widespread across the state, with a higher number of cases having been reported...
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January 01, 2020
As more and more Baby Boomers reach their senior years, I’ve noticed that grandmas don’t always look like my grandmothers did as they grew older. More and more, men and women are doing a better job taking care of themselves to prevent visible and invisible signs and sy...
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December 01, 2019
Who knew that Folic Acid Week fell during the 2nd week in January? I didn’t. In fact, I didn’t even know that much about folic acid until I started researching it. I found out how important folic acid is for seniors, and how it is crucial that aging adults consume enough fol...
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December 01, 2019
The New Year is upon us, and as seniors envision 2020 – pun intended – there are numerous resolutions to consider that can improve their outlook and make a positive impact on seniors’ overall quality of life in the New Year.There are many resolves to contemplate as baby Ne...
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December 01, 2019
An article was recently shared with me that posed the question, “Why Are Older People Considered Boring?”As the owner of an agency comprised of caregivers who provide in-home care for seniors, I pondered that question before reading the article. I’ve never considered senio...
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December 01, 2019
The adage is true, it’s the thought that counts, but if your intent to purchase meaningful gifts for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, there are a number of options to consider that are safe and useful at different stages of the disease’s progression. The follo...
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November 01, 2019
America’s population of seniors is growing by leaps and bounds as more of us are making better lifestyle choices simply by exercising more and maintaining a healthier diet. I know this is a positive reality, but as the population grows, so do the dire statistics regarding olde...
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October 01, 2019
Being a non-medical in-home healthcare agency, our caregivers offer gentle reminders when it’s time for seniors in their care to take their meds. Nearly all of the seniors we care for take prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements, herbal remedies and ...
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September 01, 2019
Seems like much of what we hear in the news today revolves around women. Women have actively raised awareness regarding equality in pay, sexual harassment and abuse (both, personally and professionally); and our constant evolution as powerful leaders in our communities and...
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September 01, 2019
I remember my grandfather wringing his hands with a noticeable grimace on his face due to the nagging pain of arthritis. The discomfort was real and would often prohibit him from performing basic, activities of daily living he enjoyed.With World Arthritis Day approaching, Saturd...
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August 01, 2019
Having employed many caregivers over the last decade, I can attest to the reality of caregiver burnout, caregiver stress, and caregiver syndrome. It is real. I’ve felt it, and I’ve witnessed the toll it’s taken on the compassionate souls who so freely give of their time an...
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June 01, 2019
I’ve had the opportunity to help lots of seniors over the years, and one of the primary takeaways from each is their longing to age in place, in their own homes, for as long as possible.In several of these cases, the seniors under my care remained at home until their passing. ...
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May 01, 2019
I love Tarpon Springs, where Greek life takes on new meaning away from college campuses! The rich culture of Greek sponge divers and their families who set down roots in this beautiful, Florida West Coast community centuries ago, still impacts the lives of its citizens to this d...
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April 01, 2019
I have always been a fan of the movie Back to the Future and specifically Michael J. Fox. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease [PD] as a young adult, it seemed confusing to me that someone so young could have a disease that typically presented in seniors over the age...
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March 01, 2019
On a recent business trip to New Orleans, I was accompanied by my two adult daughters. Interwoven in our busy conference schedule, we girls shared magnificent quality time and lots of fun together in the Big Easy! Cyndi Lauper got it right: “Girls just want to have fun!”The ...
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March 01, 2019
March is Kidney Awareness Month, and I know several seniors with kidney conditions who have undergone – or are currently undergoing – hemodialysis treatments three times each week for kidney failure. Hemodialysis, commonly referred to as simply “dialysis,” uses amazing t...
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February 01, 2019
Multi-tasking is a way of life for me. Between my professional responsibilities as a small business owner, and the amazing-but-hectic family life I share with my dear husband, children and grandchildren, I am constantly shifting gears and changing directions every single day.Tha...
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February 01, 2019
February has arrived and with it, the annual Heart Health Awareness campaign. This month of awareness serves as an excellent reminder for everyone to pay close attention to their heart health, but most particularly senior women.My Mom was diagnosed with heart disease nearly two ...
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January 01, 2019
Even though I live, work and play in The Sunshine State, I see many shades of gray days when seniors are lonely and isolated. The sun can be shining its brightest, but the forecast for these folks always seems a sustained “mostly cloudy.”One of my referral partners, aPl...
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November 01, 2018
Over Thanksgiving with family, a comment from one of my cousins at a holiday meal many years ago came to mind when I saw him: “When I die, I want to come back as Grandma’s dog!”For as long as I can remember, our maternal grandmother always seemed to have a dog. Wheth...
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October 01, 2018
I was reading an article recently in which I learned there are too few volunteers for clinical trials and studies to better help seniors with breast cancer. As I read further, I discovered the astounding fact that some studies have age cut-offs and some are limited to “healthi...
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September 01, 2018
A 74 year-old man had a loving wife, a grown son, a beautiful adult daughter, and a handsome grandson, yet he was depressed. No one realized how troubled the man was, as he appeared to be his same-old, grumpy self, hunkered-down in his easy chair watching old movies on TV and gr...
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August 01, 2018
I had the opportunity to meet a couple recently who are truly struggling physically, mentally, and emotionally. They are both alcoholics, admittedly. The wife has completely given up on life and is bedridden. The husband has done his very best to tend to all of his wife’s need...
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August 01, 2018
There are lots of adorable children in vision-related ads lately due to the back-to-school frenzy. However, after the optometrist’s office clears of all the youngsters, it’s very important that we see to it that seniors get annual eye exams.I would venture a guess that most ...
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July 01, 2018
Importance of Nutrition for Aging AdultsWhile cleaning up after dinner one night, I saw a medical segment on the CBS Evening News that caught my attention. A study published in the American Heart Association journal reported that multi-vitamins, minerals, and supplements were in...
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June 01, 2018
Independent: not requiring or relying on others (as for care or livelihood); not requiring or relying on something else*As we prepare for one of our nation’s most patriotic and one of my favorite summer holidays, July 4th or Independence Day, let us not forget the senior citiz...
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May 01, 2018
I remember my friends forewarning me about the negative side effects of menopause – hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, and fatigue – years before I actually experienced them. Those warnings held true, and I remember awakening in the middle of the night with those dread...
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May 01, 2018
Memorial: serving to preserve remembrance; commemorativeAs I pondered the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, I decided to explore this definition by referencing Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary. Once read, it occurred to me that many people will spend this special, three-d...
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January 01, 2018
Color Wheel Pro says red is “the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination, passion, desire, and love. Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises bloo...
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January 01, 2018
We survived another year, folks, and it serves as a precious milestone for many aging adults.As we ease into Baby New Year 2018, excitement and anticipation still touches my soul and delights my spirit to have a fresh opportunity and motivated drive to better myself in some way,...
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December 01, 2017
I have a friend in Tampa whose Mom, a 78 year-old woman in small town Kentucky, was diagnosed with alcohol-related dementia. Her Mom has not accepted this diagnosis and does not recognize the symptoms she displays to everyone around her every day. I’ve seen it. Her children ha...
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December 01, 2017
As a professional caregiver, I am acutely aware of the challenges involved with socializing with seniors suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. When families are together during the holidays, and a beloved family member with this dreadful condition are present, there...
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November 01, 2017
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to start by saying how grateful I am to be in a profession where I can help people! No matter what the story…and everyone has a story…it is an enormous blessing and tremendously satisfying to assist someone in order to promote and mainta...
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October 01, 2017
When I was in my late teens in the early eighties, my paternal grandmother was admitted to a nursing home with Parkinson’s disease and quite possibly, Alzheimer’s. I had never heard of Alzheimer’s before that time, but soon realized Grandma presented many of the symptoms a...
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July 01, 2017
I am a baby boomer, a term used for individuals born between 1941 and 1965, and I have a higher risk for Hepatitis C than the rest of the population. “Why?” I wondered. After doing my due diligence through research, I learned a few things I want to share about baby boomers a...
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May 31, 2017
One elderly woman under senior care loves to get her nails done at the same nail salon every month, maybe a few weeks longer between pedicures. This outing is important to her, because not only does it get her out of the house, it gives her something pleasurable to loo...
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March 08, 2017
Let’s face it. Everyone is a little Irish on St Patrick’s Day! Even mature adults, like me, choose something green to wear, eat corned beef and cabbage, and perhaps, add a shot of Bailey’s Irish Cream to their morning cup of Joe. There is nothing wrong with these things, b...
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January 05, 2017
When it’s Time to Have “The Talk” with Your Aging Parent
Sensitive life topics often make conversations difficult for families. Just as you can’t imagine needing a caregiver, your parent can’t imagine needing help with everyday life. The earlier you can have convers...
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