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Keeping Aging Parents at Home

It’s reasonable to keep your aging parents at home as long as you can do so without endangering yourself or them. Many caregivers run themselves ragged trying to keep loved ones, especially seniors, out of assisted living or nursing facilities. Caregiver burnout is common, as is the development of serious health issues among caregivers. There are, however, some ways to facilitate keeping your aging parents at home.

Safety is key! No matter what you promised your parents during better days, if you are unable to care for them properly and in a safe situation, then no amount of guilt avoidance is worth the risk. Pace yourself and take steps to keep yourself healthy, as well. Here are some tips to help you lower your stress, keep your sanity, and keep your elderly parents at home as long as you can.

Get the big picture
It’s difficult to see the big picture when the details of the little picture are overwhelming. It’s crucial, however, to understand how much care your parents really need and how much care you can provide without risking a decline in your own health.

Take time to list your parents’ routine and the tasks you do for them. Do this for a few days or a week. Then sit down and make a schedule. Do you need daytime, nighttime, or 24/7 help? Are you doing okay for your parents but barely have time to brush your teeth? Taking time to get the big picture might make the difference in how long you are able to keep your aging parents at home.

Get real
Once you understand clearly the needs of your parents, do the same exercise for yourself until you get the big picture of how much you can give without risking burnout and your health.

In the American South it’s considered polite to ask someone you meet, “Hello. How are you?” Never mind that they might have cancer, bunions, hangnails, dysentery, and back spasms. The polite response is, “Fine. And you?” Polite, but hardly realistic. Get ready and get real if you want to find the help you need.

Streamlining and recruitment
Once you determine how much and what type of help you want, start recruiting the helpers you need. Be clear and sincere about what you will need from them and when you will need it. And be patient. Good help is often hard to find but well worth the wait.

For professional and compassionate assistance caring for your loved one, please call Home Helpers or visit our website today.

Home Helpers of Bloomingdale and Wheaton is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Aurora, Bloomingdale, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Wheaton, Bartlett, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Roselle, Schaumburg, Warrenville, Mooseheart, West Chicago, and Winfield.

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Seniors at Highest Risk of Hospitilization-Related Delirium

Approximately seven million Americans, many of them seniors, develop delirium during hospital stays annually. Although Delirium has no age restriction, those 65 or older are at the highest risk.

Delirium can cause lack of focus, delusions, and frightening hallucinations. These symptoms frequently are misdiagnosed and treated as Dementia, which results in incorrect treatment and, in some cases, admission into nursing homes where treatment continues but never actually addresses the Delirium.

Patients with Delirium are also subject to further risks: falls, longer-than-expected hospital stays, development of Dementia, and elevated death rate.

How does Delirium differ from Dementia?
Although Delirium patients’ symptoms may be similar to some symptoms of Dementia, they are two distinct conditions. Delirium occurs suddenly, usually changing as the day wears on. Symptoms may include agitation, inability to pay attention, lethargy and sleepiness, or combative behavior.

Delirium patients suffer memory and cognitive issues, frightful hallucinations, and some symptoms of PTSD such as anxiety, paranoia, or anger.

Symptoms of Delirium
Hallucinations are quite common in patients with Delirium — such as mistaking an MRI machine for an oven which will burn them alive. Sometimes patients distort things that actually happened into horrible things that seem connected in their delirious mind. For instance, a catheter insertion might be mistaken as a sexual assault.

Causes of hospital-related Delirium
Seniors have as great as an 85% chance of developing Delirium while heavily sedated, in ICU (intensive care unit), in surgical recovery, and/or on ventilators. Other simple problems, such as a bladder infection, can be exacerbated by hospitalization and can lead to development of Delirium. It is important that you make known to your loved one’s hospital care team or treating physician any altered mental status exhibited by the patient. While your senior may recover as expected from the initial condition that led to hospitalization, Delirium, once begun, can take months to abate.

Prevention is critical
Almost half of Delirium occurrences are preventable. Prevention, however, is often thwarted by a lack of proper recognition and diagnosis Delirium prevention is critical because of a dearth of good treatment protocols after onset.

Older adults are particularly sensitive to some treatments. Many Delirium cases are caused by such treatments as meds for anxiety and narcotics. Environmental triggers can also cause delirium. These include the noise from busy staff going about their tasks, overly bright rooms, and frequent interruption of sleep.

Some hospitals try prevention
Some hospitals try to prevent Delirium by striving to shorten the length of time ICU patients spend on ventilators, limiting the use of restraints, and getting patients out of bed more quickly. They are also taking more precautions with medication, especially benzodiazepines.

Environmental precautions taken by some hospitals include installing large, easily read clocks; keeping audible alarms to a minimum; and turning off room lights at night.

The bottom line
Delirium is serious and adds suffering to the recovery of a hospitalized patient’s initial medical condition. And sometimes, recovering from that initial condition takes far less time than recovering from Delirium.

If your senior suddenly starts showing symptoms of an altered mental status during or after hospitalization, then don’t jump, or let your senior’s doctor jump, to the conclusion that it’s Dementia. Make sure to have your loved one evaluated for Delirium. The sooner Delirium is diagnosed, the better your senior’s chance of recovery and survival.

For professional and compassionate assistance caring for your loved one, please call Home Helpers or visit our website today.

Home Helpers of Bloomingdale and Wheaton is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Aurora, Bloomingdale, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Wheaton, Bartlett, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Roselle, Schaumburg, Warrenville, Mooseheart, West Chicago, and Winfield.

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Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is a condition that doesn’t just affect one individual but the entire family including those tasked with caregiving. Aside from the pain the individual is going through, his/her family has to deal with the grief and difficulty of watching someone they love suffer and decline. As a home care expert, your responsibility is to assist the patient and family any way you can. Here are some tips.

Take Care of Yourself
If you have ever talked to someone who cares for a patient with dementia, Alzheimer’s or other conditions, one of the first things they will tell you is to take care of yourself too. This is a stressful job and you won’t be of any use to the patient if you’re ill. Watch out for your health, get support and respite so you’ll be able to perform your duties. It isn’t just the patient or family that needs support, because you do.
You should not feel guilty about caring for yourself or taking some time off from your duties as home care specialist. One of the most difficult things for a home care specialist to do is admit they need to take care of themselves. If you find this difficult to do, remember that the care you give yourself is the care you’ll be giving to your patient.

Learn about Alzheimer’s
Elderly care will be less stressful if you’re knowledgeable about Alzheimer’s Disease. Learn as much about AD as you can and your role as a home care specialist will be more manageable. You should talk to the patient’s doctor and do research on your own. Most of the time you’ll be caring for someone with AD in the early or middle stages so don’t worry about the advanced stage now.

Talk to Other Professional Home Care Aides
One of the ways to handle this situation is to speak with other professionals who take care of patients with AD. You can get in touch with them on the Internet or your local community. One of the most challenging aspects of Alzheimer’s Disease is differentiating between Alzheimer’s and the patient, especially if he or she is a loved one or family member.

During the early stages of the disease it is easy to think that he or she is doing these things out of spite. This can lead to resentment and anger towards the patient, but you have to remember it isn’t them; it is the disease that causes them to behave that way.

Get Emotional Support
Families dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease often seek emotional support because it is a gut wrenching experience, both for them and the person that is afflicted with the condition. This should not be limited to family members as home health aides need it too. With proper support, you will be in a better position to deal with the situation and what to expect.

During the early stages of AD, the person diagnosed may refuse to accept their condition, and as a home care aide you mustn’t get frustrated with this. You can obtain emotional support from professional counseling or family members. Either you need to have a support system that grows and evolves with you.

Set Up a Daily Routine
Talk with the family about setting up a daily schedule. This will cut down on confusion and make the challenges less difficult to deal with. Those with Alzheimer’s can still follow schedules so take advantage of this. For important tasks like doctor’s appointments, bathing etc., schedule this when the person is most lucid.

Get the Individual Involved
You should also give the person with Alzheimer’s sufficient time to do what they want and don’t hurry them. If it’s still the early stages and they show signs of being capable, let the person do as many tasks as they can with as little assistance as possible. Whether it’s dressing without help, setting the table or so on, you might be surprised at how much they can still do.

Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s Disease undergo a lot of stress and that is understandable, but you don’t have to give in. There are ways to deal with it and ease your tasks without shying away from your responsibilities.

Home Helpers of Bloomingdale and Wheaton is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Aurora, Bloomingdale, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Wheaton, Bartlett, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Roselle, Schaumburg, Warrenville, Mooseheart, West Chicago, and Winfield.

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Dementia and Alzheimer’s Myths and Facts

To be a good caregiver, knowing the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s myths and facts is necessary. Because there is still a lot we don’t understand about them, it is not surprising that myths and misinformation have spread, and you need to be aware of them.

Myth: Herbal Supplements Can Cure Alzheimer’s
Fact: There are a lot of herbal products and supplements which claim to cure Alzheimer’s, but there is no scientific or medical evidence to support them. These herbal supplements have been the subject of a lot of studies but no definitive conclusion has been reached yet. It is unlikely these supplements will cause side effects that affect their behavior, but there is no evidence these herbs can help.

Myth: Dementia and Alzheimer are One and the Same
Fact: The two are not the same.

Dementia is not classified as a specific disease, but a collection of indicators that are linked to a decline or loss of reasoning, thinking and memory. Those with dementia encounter problems performing daily routines that they have been doing all their lives.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common types of dementia. It is progressive, irreversible and progressive. The exact cause is unknown and there is no cure. The need for home care for Alzheimer’s is it robs the person of their memory, leading to disorientation, confusion, memory loss and personality changes. These symptoms usually manifest during the middle and late stages of the disease.

Myth: If a Family Member Has Alzheimer’s, You Will Get it Too
Fact: This is not true. Yes, some types of dementia have a genetic element, but this does not mean you’re going to have one as well. Even if your parent or sibling has developed this condition, you can take steps to prevent it from happening to you. You can reduce your risk for instance, by living a healthy lifestyle, exercising and sticking to a healthy diet.

This doesn’t guarantee you won’t end up with dementia, but your risk goes down. By controlling your blood pressure and keeping your cholesterol at normal levels, you’ll be in better shape.

Myth: Red Wine is a Preventive Measure against Dementia
Fact: Home health aides are sometimes asked if red wine is good for people with Alzheimer’s, but it’s not. There are health benefits associated with red wine, but the amount consumed in typical social drinking is not enough to make a difference. Red wine contains a chemical known as resveratrol which offers some protective benefits. However, you need to drink about two dozen a night, which isn’t good for anyone whether they have dementia or not.

Myth: Head Injuries Cause Alzheimer’s
Fact: This myth is very persistent but again there is no conclusive proof yet. Certainly concussions among young and middle age people are a concern, but it is too early to link it linked to dementia. There are medical researchers who believe that concussions and other types of head injuries could lead to dementia, but until there is evidence to support this, it cannot be considered factual.

Myth: There is Nothing That Can be Done if a Person has Dementia
Fact: Dementia and Alzheimer’s are progressive and up to now there is no cure. However, it would be wrong to say that nothing can be done. With proper care and medication, it is possible to make up for the decline in a person’s cognitive functions. With the combination of medicine and personal care, it is possible to help a person deal with the symptoms. One of the keys is making sure the person is as physically and mentally active as possible.

Myth: Drug Use Leads to Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Fact: There is no evidence to support this claim. Drug abuse is unhealthy in many other ways, but there are not enough facts to support the view drug use in any way makes a person more vulnerable. More research is necessary.

As an in-home care expert, part of your responsibility is answering questions from family members concerning the disease. Doctors should have the final word of course, but knowing the facts and myths can go far in informing family members and putting their minds at ease.

For more tips on Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia or caregiving in general, visit our blog.

Home Helpers of Bloomingdale and Wheaton is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Aurora, Bloomingdale, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Wheaton, Bartlett, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Roselle, Schaumburg, Warrenville, Mooseheart, West Chicago, and Winfield.

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Recognizing Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout and Stress and How to Deal With

Caregivers undergo a lot of stress: it is unpredictable, the workload can be immense and dealing with the individual, the family and your own personal needs can feel like the world is collapsing around you. Whether you’re a professional or just someone who needs to take care of a sick / elderly family member, it’s physically and emotionally draining.

Caregiving is usually long term, it’s even more stressful if the individual is suffering from a terminal illness or is a loved one. Without proper care and support, you are at risk of developing emotional and physical problems such as depression. Your priority may be to care for someone, but your ability to do this will be affected if you’re not well.

Symptoms of Caregiving Burnout and Stress
Being able to recognize the symptoms is the first step towards dealing with the problem.

Symptoms include:

  • Reduced time for leisure activities
  • Ignoring responsibilities
  • Eating more, smoking or drinking
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Health problems appearing
  • Feeling fatigued
  • Depressed
  • Irritated
  • Insomnia

These are the symptoms of home care burnout and as you soon as you recognize them, you need to take steps to deal with it.

Get Help
Caregiving is taxing enough as it is, and taking on additional responsibilities will take its toll on your body and mind. Don’t do more than you’re capable of, and make sure you have breaks. You should get help from the family to help you out even if you’re the one primarily tasked with caregiving. While you’re taking care of the person, there should be someone else doing the errands and helping you prepare meals.

Speak Out
Let family members know if you’re tired or not feeling well. As someone who has been trained for this you are in a position to inform the family of the situation, if you think there are ways to improve the arrangement and so on. You are not shirking away from your responsibility but looking for a way to improve the person’s condition.

Get Organized
One of the primary causes of stress is lack of organization, so set up a schedule and organize your tasks so you’ll know what to do. Note down your tasks, and don’t say no when someone offers help. It won’t just make your life easier, but people feel better when they’re helping someone they love.

Don’t be Afraid to Delegate
Even if you’re the expert in caregiving, there’s nothing wrong with delegating some duties. There’s no need to micromanage everything or insisting things can only be done your way. Caring for someone isn’t just your responsibility.

Take a Break
Caregiving takes up a lot of your time, but that doesn’t mean you cannot have fun and relax. Relaxing is the most effective way of dealing with stress, so you need to work out your schedule and allow yourself to relax. Whether it’s watching a movie, reading a book or just going out for a walk, don’t deny yourself these pleasures. If you’re stress free and enjoying yourself, it’s going to have a positive effect on your work and the people around you.

The point here is there’s a world of difference between being productive and busy. If you keep pushing yourself to the limit, you’ll get burned out and be more of a hindrance than help to the person you’re caring for. If you take breaks, you will be able to come back feeling refreshed.

You don’t need to set aside a lot of time for these, because even as little as 30 minutes a day when you can relax should be enough. You can read, watch TV, browse the web, play with the dogs, whatever you want. While you’re resting, someone else can pitch in.

Home health care can be easier if you don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Caring for someone is taxing, and there are days when you’re feeling like you’re overworked and other times when you like you’re not doing enough, but what’s important is you just do your best. The whole point is that in-home care specialists and aides need care as well. You have to learn how to manage your stress as it determines how well you’ll be able to perform your duties.

Home Helpers of Bloomingdale and Wheaton is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Aurora, Bloomingdale, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Wheaton, Bartlett, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Roselle, Schaumburg, Warrenville, Mooseheart, West Chicago, and Winfield.

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How to Choose a Home Care Aide for Your Parent

How to Choose a Home Care Aide for Your Parent

The key to finding the right home care agency is knowing the level of care needed by your parent. There are essentially two categories of in-home care: custodial care and skilled care. Custodial care includes help with shopping, housekeeping, preparing meals, and even personal care like dressing, feeding and bathing. Skilled care, on the other hand, provides for the medical needs of the senior. Some agencies offer only one type of care while others have both.

Here are some tips for choosing a home care provider for your parent:

Here are several tips for choosing caregivers:

  • Assess your loved one’s home care needs. You need to thoroughly evaluate what kind of help is needed by your parent when it comes to their health care, household care and personal care. Do they need help with home health care like managing their medications or physical therapy? Do they need non-medical related care such as toileting, meal preparation, dressing and bathing? Or perhaps your loved one only needs a sitter or companion?
     
  • Create a job description. After you have evaluated your loved one’s needs, it’s time to write a job description which will help you identify the most suitable candidates for the job. If you’re going to a senior care agency, the job description will also help them in choosing the right caregiver for your parent.
     
  • Have a job contract. Your in home care agency should be able to draft a contract but it’s important to make sure all the pertinent details are included. This includes the cost/wages, hours of work, the job description, rules, reasons for termination, notice of termination, and signatures of the parties involved. Your contract will serve as your protection in case things do not work out well between any of the parties involved.
     
  • Look for prospective elderly care providers. You can ask around – friends, neighbors or even the people you work with – may be able to point you to a few good agencies or they may know of a caregiver personally. You can also check online for reputable agencies. On a related note, if your elderly loved one requires special care, such as if they are suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, you should also see to it that the caregivers you are considering have the proper training and experience in dealing with patients who have these conditions.
     
  • Prepare for the interview. Once you have found an agency that employs home health aides, it’s time to prepare for the interview. You need to have a list of questions to ask, not only the caregivers but also the agency itself. Ask how long they have been in the business, if their caregivers are bonded, if they are licensed, and what kind of training the home care providers have undergone. Pick an agency that is very helpful in answering your questions. Avoid those who appear too busy to answer your questions as well as those that do not provide satisfactory answers.

    When interviewing the caregiver applicants, always make it a point to observe their demeanor and personality. Invite a family member to join in the interview so you can get a second opinion. If possible, you also need to observe the interactions between the caregiver and the person who is needing elderly care.

    Keep in mind that a lot of agency workers look good on paper but may not really be qualified to provide care to the elderly. You need to look past their resumes and you should really do your best to find out as much about them and their personality before you decide who will care for your aging parent.

  • Run a background check and see references. This should be mandatory. You should also check if they have any records of alcohol or drug use, if they have offenses that present a safety risk, and if they have a driver’s license. Finally, hire thoughtfully. Find out as much as you can about the agency and the caregiver. You want the best possible care for your parent and this starts by giving him or her a caregiver who is experienced and trained to provide the services required, someone who is compassionate, understanding and patient, and someone you can trust to look after your parent when you’re not around.
     

Find out how the caregivers at Home Helpers of Bloomingdale can help provide the best possible quality of life at home for your loved one – contact us to schedule your free in-home consultation today.

We offer in-home care in the communities of Aurora (Northeastern), Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Itasca, Medinah, Mooseheart, Naperville (Northern), Roselle, Schaumburg, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton, and Winfield. in Western Dupage County and NW Cook County.

Home Helpers of Bloomingdale and Wheaton is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Aurora, Bloomingdale, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Wheaton, Bartlett, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Roselle, Schaumburg, Warrenville, Mooseheart, West Chicago, and Winfield.

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