Community Blog

Senior Citizens Day - August 21

Although it can be demanding at times, most caregivers don’t need to be reminded of the many ways spending time with seniors and learning from their experiences can enrich our lives. Since the 1930s, American have marked one day in August to celebrate our seniors, the lives they’ve lived and the contributions they continue to...

Five ways to keep seniors safe during the hot summer months

While many think of the Chicagoland area as being cold in the winter, those of us who live here know it can get pretty hot and humid during the summer. The University of Chicago Medical Center conducted a study that found 40% of heat related deaths in the U.S. were among people 65 and older....

Summer Reading for Those in In-Home Care

Senior home care that is not just practical but enriching is not some recent invention. In his documentary series The Story of China, British historian Michael Wood describes a book about caring for aging parents written in 1085. The Chinese reverence for the aged is well known, but the ideas in this book are still so...

The Road to Recovery from Stroke

May is American Stroke Month, and we’re starting the month in San Diego for the Home Helpers Annual Conference. This is one of the few times each year I have the opportunity to share ideas and plans for the future with colleagues from our network across the country. One of my favorite parts of the conference,...

Is it a Stroke? Better Act F.A.S.T.

Gerry, a 50-ish professional with an active lifestyle, was chatting with a co-worker in the parking lot outside his office when his companion suddenly began leading him to his own car. Several times, Gerry protested that he had somewhere to go, but his colleague persisted. Gerry was fortunate that day because his friend had the...

Caregiving Tips to Celebrate Spring

April is the time of year when many of us begin to transition our entertaining and family gatherings to the outdoors. Having adjusted to the time change and the lengthening days, people in this part of the world feel the call of the wild – or at least the patio or deck – for spending...

Caregiving is a Personal Thing

In-home care will never be a one-size-fits-all program. It’s personal. When you first start to consider in-home care for a member of your family, you probably have a lot of questions. Your loved one probably does, too. We have discussed several times the family dynamics of discussing adding a professional caregiver to your team, and...

Parkinson’s Caregivers Face Unique Challenges

The most important element in any caregiving partnership is just that: The Partnership. No amount of hints, tips or tricks you read and none of the techniques you practice or the research either partner does can replace the importance of this sometimes stressful relationship. When caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s disease, open communication...

Welcome To Spring 2017

President’s Corner – (For Caregivers)By Christine L. Browning R.N. I want to formally thank all of you on the caregiving team for your hard work and dedication. Home Helpers of Barrington and Palatine is a lifelong dream of mine and you are the day to day face of that dream coming true. Our mission is;...